Bangkok:Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has addressed critics within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regarding their opposition to Ghana's proposed entry into the BRICS bloc. He highlighted a technical committee report prepared during the Akufo-Addo administration that assessed the benefits of joining the group.
According to Ghana Web, Ablakwa, speaking on TV3's The KeyPoints, questioned the basis of the opposition's concerns, given that a previous administration had conducted a similar evaluation. He cited an October 2023 report from a technical committee that was formed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review the implications of Ghana joining or not joining BRICS.
Ablakwa explained that the committee involved stakeholders from various ministries and was tasked with advising the government after reviewing a concept note on the matter. The report recognized the significance of the vision behind BRICS and considered the potential effects of membership on Ghana.
The minister criticized the current opposition for contradicting the earlier actions of their administration, asking why they now find the proposal alarming. He accused the critics of prioritizing partisan politics over a critical national policy issue with significant economic implications for Ghana.
Ablakwa emphasized that discussions on BRICS membership should be evidence-based and focused on Ghana's national interests rather than driven by political competition. He reiterated that the proposal aims to diversify Ghana's international partnerships and broaden economic opportunities, not to distance the country from its traditional allies.