President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, departed from Ghana for Johannesburg, South Africa, in response to an invitation from President Cyril Ramaphosa. The purpose of the trip is to participate in the 15th BRICS Summit, a gathering of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

The Summit which is being held from August 22 to August 24 will be attended by the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa. President Vladimir Putin of Russia will not attend the Summit but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister, Mr Sergey Lavrov.

The world 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. Despite the fact that the BRICS Summit is a gathering of heads of state and government, a comprehensive business programme has been organised around it, and it culminates in the BRICS Business Forum.

An address by President Akufo-Addo is expected at the summit. He was accompanied by Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, as well as representatives from the White House and the Foreign Ministry.

The Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall act in the President's absence in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution. The Vice President will return to Ghana on Friday, August 25, 2023.