President Akufo-Addo left Ghana yesterday for South Africa.
He is there at the invitation of the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, to attend the 15th BRICS Summit, which is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa from August 22 to 24.
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 its Foreign Minister, 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.
President Akufo-Addo is expected to deliver a statement at the Summit.
He was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.
The President will return home on Friday, August 25, 2023.
In his absence, Vice President Dr. Bawumia will be acting as President in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution.