President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left Ghana on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at the invitation of President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, to attend the 15th BRICS Summit, which is taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22 to August 24.

The leaders of Brazil, India, China, and South Africa will be present at the summit. Russian Federation Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will represent the Russian Federation at the summit in place of President Vladimir Putin.

The international economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa collectively make up the BRICS, which was created in 2010 after South Africa joined the BRIC group. BRICS Summit is a gathering of heads of state, along with politics and government, the Summit will also feature a robust business agenda that will conclude with the BRICS Business Forum.

At the Summit, President Akufo-Addo is anticipated to make a statement. He was accompanied by the Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, as well as representatives from the White House and the Foreign Ministry.

On Friday, August 25, 2023, the President will return to Ghana. In his absence, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President, will function in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution.