President Akufo-Addo, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, left Ghana this afternoon to attend the 15th BRICS Summit, which is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 22nd August to 24th August.

The Summit will be attended by the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa. President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the Summit but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister, Mr Sergey Lavrov.

BRICS is a grouping of the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa formed by the 2010 addition of South Africa to the predecessor BRIC. Whilst the BRICS Summit is a meeting of Heads of State and Government, there is also an extensive business programme arranged around the Summit culminating in the BRICS Business Forum.

A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin noted that the President is expected to deliver a statement at the Summit.

He was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway; and officials of the presidency and Foreign Ministry. The President will return to Ghana on Friday.