President John Dramani Mahama has defended Ghana’s decision to seek partnership with BRICS countries, describing the move as part of efforts to diversify development partnerships, attract investment and deepen South-South cooperation.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of four ambassadors at the Jubilee House on Friday, October 16, 2026, President Mahama said Ghana would pursue new economic opportunities while maintaining its longstanding relationships with traditional international partners.
“Ghana’s decision to apply for partnership with the BRICS countries reflects our determination to broaden our development partnerships and deepen South-South cooperation,” he said.
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The President said the initiative is to expand opportunities for trade, industrialisation, technology transfer and value addition as Ghana navigates an increasingly complex global environment.
He cited shifting international alliances, rising trade restrictions and growing competition for technology and natural resources as reasons for adopting a more strategic approach to foreign relations.
President Mahama urged Ghana’s diplomatic missions to explain the country’s BRICS engagement to their host nations and international partners within the context of its broader economic and foreign policy objectives.
He also challenged the newly appointed envoys to make economic diplomacy deliver tangible benefits for Ghanaians by identifying investors, opening international markets for local businesses and facilitating partnerships in research and skills development.
“Judge the success of your economic diplomacy by the opportunities you can bring to Ghana,” he told the ambassadors.
The President further urged the missions to monitor investment proposals and agreements, identify implementation challenges and work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutions to address them.
He said Ghana’s efforts to retain greater value from its natural resources are reflected in initiatives such as the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board and plans to promote local processing of lithium, bauxite and manganese.
The four envoys sworn into office were Nana Antwiwaa Dodoo, Ambassador to Angola; Louis Kwame Obeng, Ambassador to Qatar; Evelyn Korantemaa Ofosu-Amable, Ambassador to Israel; and Jedidiah Reuben Adogla, Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland.
President Mahama stressed that expanding Ghana’s international partnerships would not mean abandoning existing relationships, but creating more options to advance national development priorities.
He said diplomatic missions must help attract investment and expertise capable of transforming Ghana’s natural resources into productive industries and sustainable jobs.