Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has challenged critics within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), over their opposition to Ghana’s proposed entry into BRICS, citing a technical committee report prepared during the Akufo-Addo administration that examined the merits of joining the bloc.

Speaking on TV3’s The KeyPoints on Saturday, October 10, 2026, Ablakwa questioned why members of the opposition were raising concerns about the proposed membership when a previous administration had undertaken a similar assessment.

The minister referred to an October 2023 technical committee report on BRICS, which he said was produced following consultations convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Ablakwa, the committee was tasked with reviewing a concept note and advising the government on the implications of Ghana joining or remaining outside the bloc.

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“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened a technical committee meeting with stakeholders from selected ministries to provide advice to the government and review the concept note on the ramifications of the country’s membership or otherwise of the BRICS,” he said.

He read from the report, which acknowledged the importance of the vision behind BRICS and examined the potential implications of membership for Ghana.

Ablakwa argued that the previous administration had already considered the issue, making the current opposition to the proposal difficult to reconcile with its earlier actions.

“Why are you out there today saying that you reject this, that this is so scary, this is dangerous, the IMF will be angry?” he asked.

He accused critics of allowing partisan politics to overshadow what he described as a major national policy question with implications for Ghana’s economic future.

“There are some matters. This is a very serious national matter, which is about our destiny, our development, our economic paradigm,” he said.

The minister insisted that discussions about BRICS should be informed by evidence and a careful examination of the country’s interests rather than political rivalry.

“We should come to this discussion only based on facts, intellectual rigour, not just play to the gallery and engaging with cheap partisanship,” he stated.

Ablakwa maintained that Ghana’s proposed membership was intended to diversify its international partnerships and expand its economic options, not to sever ties with traditional allies.

FKA/VPO

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