By Emmanuel Gamson
Takoradi, Oct. 12, GNA – Dr Patrick Ekye Kwesie, Leader of the Western Nzema Youth League (WNYL), a youth group, says Ghana’s plan to join the BRICS represents a significant opportunity to advance the country’s economic transformation, deepen international cooperation, and reinforce its position in an increasingly multipolar world.
He said at a time when African nations were seeking greater influence in global economic and political affairs, Ghana deserved commendation for exploring partnerships that could open new avenues for investment, trade, industrialisation, and technological development.
He said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), in Takoradi.
Dr Kwesie said: “BRICS is a grouping of major emerging economies and offers a platform for cooperation beyond traditional Western-dominated economic institutions.
“For Ghana, closer engagement with the bloc could create opportunities to expand markets for locally produced goods, attract investment into critical sectors, strengthen infrastructure, and promote value addition to the country’s natural resources.”
He stated that as a nation endowed with gold, cocoa, oil, bauxite, manganese, and other valuable resources, Ghana must pursue international partnerships that would enable it to move beyond exporting raw materials towards developing a strong manufacturing and industrial base.
Strategic cooperation with BRICS countries could support this ambition through technology transfer, skills development, infrastructure financing, and expanded commercial relations, Dr Kwesie added.
He, however, said Ghana’s engagement must be guided by a clear national interest, noting that the objective should not be to replace one dependency with another, but to diversify partnerships and negotiate agreements that delivered measurable benefits to the Ghanaian people.
He said transparency, accountability, economic discipline, and protection of local industries must remain central to this process.
Dr Kwesie noted that the government must also ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises, farmers, young entrepreneurs, and local manufacturers were positioned to benefit from any new opportunities.
“Ghana’s youth, in particular, must be equipped with the skills and resources necessary to participate meaningfully in emerging industries and international markets.
“The Western Nzema Youth League believes that Ghana’s future prosperity depends on bold but carefully considered economic diplomacy and engagement with BRICS could complement Ghana’s existing international relationships while strengthening its capacity to determine its own development priorities,” he stated.
He, therefore, commended government’s move to explore engagement with the BRICS, and encouraged policymakers to pursue this opportunity with vision, patriotism, and strategic foresight to benefit the country.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Emmanuel Gamson
Email address: [email protected]