Ghana BRICS Bid Draws 5 Demands From APC

The Independence Arch at Independence Square in Accra (Photo: Kwameghana, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

GHANA · DIPLOMACY

The Ghana BRICS bid met fresh demands for parliamentary scrutiny on Saturday 17 October 2026, when All People’s Congress (APC) leader Hassan Ayariga asked President John Dramani Mahama to put the plan before Parliament. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa defended the bid the same day on JoyNews.

For US readers the stakes are trade and diplomacy, because Trump has threatened an extra 10% tariff on any country aligning with the “anti-American policies” of BRICS. The Ghana BRICS bid therefore lands in a wider debate about how an African government balances Washington and the bloc.

Cabinet approved the application on Tuesday 6 October, as we covered in Ghana Cabinet Approves BRICS Bid: What It Means for US Ties. The new element is an argument inside Ghana about who decides on the Ghana BRICS bid.

Where the Ghana BRICS Bid Stands

Ablakwa announced the Cabinet decision at a joint briefing in Accra with India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. He welcomed Ghana’s interest but said any expansion needs collective consideration by current BRICS members.

The wording has shifted since then. Ablakwa told TV3 on Saturday 10 October that Ghana would seek BRICS partner-country status rather than full membership, and Mahama spoke on Friday 16 October of a decision “to apply for partnership with the BRICS countries”.

Partner countries take part in the bloc’s work without being full members, and Citi Newsroom lists Malaysia, Nigeria, Uganda and Vietnam in that category. MyJoyOnline wrote on 12 October that Ablakwa called partner status a first step towards full membership, but on Newsfile on 17 October he said the government seeks partner status rather than full membership.

Containers at the Tema container terminal, Ghana, where trade with BRICS members moves. (Photo: SteKrueBe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

What the Minority Asked For

The Minority is the opposition bloc in Parliament, and its Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member, Samuel Abu Jinapor, spoke for it on Thursday 8 October. He said Ablakwa ought to brief the House “as a matter of urgency” once Parliament resumes.

Jinapor accepted that membership could bring alternative financing and wider trade links, but warned of implications that “may be adverse to the national interest”. He asked why Ghana was not following Nigeria, a partner country and member of the New Development Bank, which limits its exposure.

Ablakwa answered on 10 October that the previous government had also studied BRICS, quoting a report that recommended Ghana “express prospective interest in joining the bloc”. He accused the Minority of double standards, according to 3News.

Ayariga’s Five Demands on 17 October

In a statement dated Saturday 17 October 2026, Ayariga asked who gave Cabinet the authority to decide for “over 34 million Ghanaians” without parliamentary and public consultation. He cited Article 1(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which places sovereignty in the people of Ghana.

He called on the government to publish a policy document setting out the objectives, benefits, risks and obligations of participation. He also asked for the proposal to go to Parliament for debate and any approval the Constitution requires.

His remaining demands are a transparent consultation with political parties, civil society, economists and business groups, and the release of the constitutional and legal assessment behind the decision. He also wants a guarantee that any arrangement protects Ghana’s economic independence and sovereignty.

Ayariga urged the Speaker and all members of Parliament to demand a comprehensive briefing from the Foreign Minister on the economic case, risks and legal obligations. He added that Ghana “is not for sale” and that Parliament must not be left as a spectator.

What the Constitution Says About Treaties

Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution lets the President execute treaties, agreements or conventions in the name of Ghana. Any such instrument is subject to ratification by an Act of Parliament or by a resolution supported by more than half of all members.

Article 76 says the Cabinet assists the President in determining the general policy of the Government. Ayariga argues that if the BRICS arrangement counts as a treaty or agreement, ratification applies, and that even if it does not, the matter deserves debate.

None of the coverage reviewed says whether a partner-country application would legally count as such an agreement. That question is for lawyers and Parliament, and no court or government lawyer has addressed it in the sources we found.

Ablakwa Answers on the US Question

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on 17 October, Ablakwa rejected warnings that BRICS ties could invite American penalties. He said Trump himself was dealing with BRICS countries, citing a diesel arrangement with Russia that MyJoyOnline says was announced on 9 October.

That deal is Ablakwa’s example and we have not independently confirmed its terms. He also linked the bid to the non-aligned vision of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah.

MyJoyOnline’s 12 October analysis noted that Trump’s earlier 100% tariff threat concerned a currency to replace the US dollar, while the 10% threat referred to “anti-American policies”. It said neither threat establishes a tariff that applies automatically to a country seeking BRICS status.

The same analysis reported that four of Ghana’s five largest export destinations in 2025 were BRICS members: the United Arab Emirates, India, South Africa and China. That trade pattern is part of the government’s case for closer ties with the bloc.

What It Means for You

US exporters and investors face no new rule today, because Ghana has announced an intention to apply and no admission has been reported. The risk to watch is how Washington reads any later steps, since the tariff threats were written in general terms.

Visitors and residents see no change to visas, prices or travel from this debate. Our guides Ghana Geopolitics Explained 2026 and Ghana Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026 set out the players, and our Accra expat city guide covers daily life.

What Is Not Known

The sources do not say when Parliament will next sit or whether the Foreign Minister has been scheduled to brief it. Citi Newsroom reported in July that Parliament was due to adjourn on 31 July, and Jinapor’s request is tied to its return.

Ablakwa said on 17 October that Ghana seeks partner status rather than full membership, but it is not known whether an upgrade is planned, because MyJoyOnline reported on 12 October that he called partner status a first step. No application outcome has been reported, and current members must agree on any admission.

Ablakwa has said a policy paper underpins the Ghana BRICS bid, but its text has not been published in the coverage reviewed. Ayariga’s statement is a political demand, and the government has not yet replied to his five points in the sources we found.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Ghana apply to join BRICS?

Cabinet approved a decision on 6 October to formally apply, according to Ablakwa. No outcome of an application has been reported.

Who is demanding a parliamentary role?

The Minority in Parliament asked on 8 October for an urgent briefing, and APC leader Hassan Ayariga repeated the call on 17 October. He also asked for public consultation and a published legal assessment.

Does the Constitution require Parliament to approve BRICS ties?

Article 75 requires ratification of treaties, agreements or conventions executed by the President. The sources do not say whether a partner-country application would count as one.

Is Ghana seeking full membership or partner status?

Ablakwa said on 10 October and again on 17 October that Ghana would seek partner-country status, and Mahama spoke of a partnership on 16 October. An earlier MyJoyOnline report on 12 October had described partner status as a first step towards full membership.

Could the United States penalise Ghana for it?

Trump has threatened a 10% tariff on countries aligning with BRICS policies and a 100% tariff over a replacement currency. Analysts quoted by Ghanaian media say neither threat applies automatically to Ghana.

Sources: MyJoyOnline, 17 October 2026; MyJoyOnline, 18 October 2026; MyJoyOnline, 17 October 2026; Citi Newsroom, 8 October 2026; Citi Newsroom, 10 October 2026; GBC Ghana Online, 9 October 2026; 3News, 10 October 2026; MyJoyOnline, 12 October 2026; MyJoyOnline, 16 October 2026; Constitution of Ghana, 1992 (text).

Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error