Ghana IntelBrief
Back to Latest Briefings
Ablakwa to face Newsfile questions on BRICS bid and GH¢49.7m evacuation cost
October 16, 2026
AI-Enhanced

Ablakwa to face Newsfile questions on BRICS bid and GH¢49.7m evacuation cost

Money
Policy
Opportunity
Growth

Key Points

  • Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is set to face questions on JoyNews' Newsfile regarding Ghana’s bid to join the BRICS economic bloc and the GH¢49.7 million spent evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa.
  • Cabinet has approved Ghana's formal application to join BRICS, with the Minister highlighting it as an opportunity to diversify international partnerships, expand trade, investment, and economic cooperation for sustainable growth.
  • The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns about the BRICS bid, calling for a briefing on geopolitical implications and questioning the pursuit of full membership over a partner-country arrangement.
  • The GH¢49.7 million cost for evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa, with government contributing GH¢33.7 million and a private donation of GH¢16 million, faces scrutiny from the Minority demanding a detailed breakdown.
  • Ablakwa defends the evacuation expenditure, stating the value of protecting lives outweighs the cost, and has voluntarily requested an independent audit of similar past exercises, while the Majority defends the spending.

Why This Matters

This article is crucial for Ghana as it addresses the nation's strategic foreign policy pivot towards emerging economies like BRICS, potentially reshaping its economic partnerships and development trajectory away from traditional dependencies. Concurrently, it highlights significant public scrutiny over government accountability and financial management, particularly regarding a substantial expenditure for citizen evacuation, impacting public trust and the transparent use of national resources.

Read Full Article

View original source

Related Articles

Asene farmers demand compensation for farms destroyed by Accra-Kumasi expressway

October 29, 2026

Asene farmers demand compensation for farms destroyed by Accra-Kumasi expressway
  • Over 200 farmers at Akyem Asene in the Eastern Region are appealing to the government for adequate compensation for farms destroyed for the new Accra-Kumasi expressway.
  • Affected properties include cocoa, food crop, and oil palm farms, which were their main sources of livelihood.
  • The farmers staged a demonstration, detailing economic hardships, including difficulty meeting daily needs and paying school fees, since their farms were destroyed over eight months ago.
  • Leaders highlighted significant financial losses, with one farmer, Da Costa Asamoah, losing an estimated GH¢40,000 annual income from his 8-acre cocoa farm.
  • The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) confirmed that some farms have not yet been measured, explaining the delay by an increase in the expressway's width from 120 metres to 150 metres, affecting additional farmers.
Read full briefing

NAIMOS begins community engagements in galamsey-prone areas

October 29, 2026

NAIMOS begins community engagements in galamsey-prone areas
  • The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has launched community engagements in galamsey-prone areas.
  • The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration, build public confidence, address local concerns, and improve intelligence sharing.
  • Engagements will involve traditional authorities, local government officials, and opinion leaders to tackle environmental and livelihood challenges.
  • This strategy complements existing enforcement operations rather than replacing them, as part of a broader coordinated effort.
  • The program aligns with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources' strategy and President John Dramani Mahama's vision to intensify the fight against illegal mining.
Read full briefing

‘We tend to be open-minded and liberal, but that’s not how we’ve lived so far’ – Kufuor

October 29, 2026

‘We tend to be open-minded and liberal, but that’s not how we’ve lived so far’ – Kufuor
  • Former President Kufuor advocates for a Ghana where individual enterprise thrives, supported by strong leadership and inclusive governance.
  • He emphasizes leveraging Ghana's natural resources and human talent, cautioning against stifling initiative with excessive taxation.
  • Kufuor envisions a state framework that empowers the private sector to mature, attract investment, and allow citizens to build legitimate wealth.
  • His vision balances private enterprise with robust social protection, calling for quality education, healthcare, and a safety net against poverty.
  • He highlights Ghana's potential through its mineral resources (gold, lithium, bauxite, manganese) and the character of its people to achieve shared prosperity.
Read full briefing