Ghana has formally applied to join Brics, the bloc of emerging economies that now counts 11 members, as the country looks to open up trade and diplomatic relationships beyond its traditional Western partners. It is a bold move, but the path forward is not straightforward.
To gain entry, Ghana must secure the approval of every single existing Brics member, a requirement that raises the stakes considerably. No one vote can be taken for granted, and that means Ghana has real persuading to do across multiple capitals before a seat becomes a reality.
What Ghana brings to the table, and how convincingly it can make that case, will determine everything. Watch this space.
Originally published by AllAfrica.