BRICS leaders are pushing for a greater role for the Global South in shaping international affairs, arguing that developing nations should no longer be confined to accepting rules created by more powerful countries.

The message emerged prominently from the bloc’s 18th summit in New Delhi, India, where leaders unanimously adopted a 45-page joint declaration outlining their priorities on global governance, conflict, trade, technology and economic cooperation. The summit was held under the theme“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi captured the bloc’s broader ambition by calling on the Global South to become a “rule-shaper” rather than simply a rule-taker. He argued that the international system should move away from entrenched inequalities and toward greater partnership among nations.

“We have to transform this pyramid of privilege into a platform of partnership,” Modi told the summit.

The declaration reinforces that vision by calling for sweeping reforms to international institutions that developing nations have long argued do not adequately reflect the realities of the modern world. BRICS has specifically sought greater influence for emerging economies within institutions including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization.

The scale of the bloc gives that demand considerable geopolitical weight. BRICS now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, and its members collectively represent nearly half of the world’s population and approximately 40% of global GDP.

The declaration also calls for stronger representation for developing countries in global decision-making. Russian President Vladimir Putin backed greater representation for Asia, Africa and Latin America on the United Nations Security Council, while Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an international order characterized by greater “equity and justice.”

That push comes as BRICS attempts to define its place in an increasingly fragmented international system. The bloc reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism and multipolarity, arguing that a more distributed global power structure could create greater opportunities for emerging markets and developing countries.

At the same time, Modi sought to make clear that BRICS should not automatically be viewed as an anti-Western alliance.

“BRICS is not against anyone,” he said, stressing instead the group’s goal of giving the Global South a stronger role in determining the direction of global affairs.

The New Delhi summit therefore underscored both the growing ambitions of BRICS and the challenge of translating those ambitions into coordinated action. The bloc includes countries with competing strategic interests, yet its leaders are increasingly presenting the group as an important platform through which emerging economies can demand a greater voice in decisions affecting the global economy and international order.

Here are the top headline news stories from Ghanaian newspapers published on Monday, September 14, 2026.

Graphic Business: GH¢225bn in, GH¢234bn out (Sub-headline: Taxes funded 86% of revenue as wages, transfers and debt interest absorbed 80% of spending)

The Informer: Majority Accuses IMF Of Sabotage, Doing NPP Bidding (Sub-headline: …Says Its Reports Are Anti-Govt)

The National Voice: Massive €260M Cocaine Shipment From Ghana Seized In France

The New Publisher: Excuses Will Not Educate A Child (Sub-headline: Afenyo-Markin Tells Gov’t To Fix The Crisis)

The Metro Lens: $1 Billion Drug Busts! (Sub-headline: …Minority asks: How Much Cocaine Is Passing Through Ghana Undetected?)

The Meridian: ANOTHER COCAINE SCANDAL HITS GHANA! (Sub-headline: …€225M Cocaine Shipment from Ghana Seized in France)

The Herald: €225 MILLION COCAINE FROM GHANA TRACED (Sub-headline: To Fugitive Dutch Drug Kingpin Based In Sierra Leone)

The Insight: MAHAMA Says 24-Hour Markets Will Power Local Economies (Secondary top story: Stan Dogbe Committee Petitioned To Halt Unsafe Akuapem Building)

Republic Press: Mahama, Ayariga Differ On Cathedral Job

The Custodian: More Narcotic Drugs Shipped From Ghana (Sub-headline: As France Seizes $260m Cocaine In Latest Drug Bust)

The Daily Gist: Mahama Stabs Haruna Iddrisu (Sub-headline: Over Arabic, French Languages In SHS)

Daily Guide: NDC Must Apologise To NPP Over Corruption Claims – Gbande

The Ghanaian Times: Kpeshie Lagoon buffer zone cleared (Sub-headline: Over 20 structures demolished at Laboma)

Daily Graphic: Govt commits special funding to Free SHS (Sub-headline: Double track to end 2027 — President Mahama)

French customs officers have seized nearly 3.9 metric tons of cocaine with an estimated street value of €225 million ($261.45 million) at the northern port of Dunkirk, in one of the largest drug busts in recent French history, the French organized crime prosecutor’s office announced Thursday.

The cocaine was concealed inside a container of plastic waste arriving from Ghana, according to authorities. The shipment was initially destined, in part, for Antwerp, Belgium — a major European hub for narcotics trafficking.

Investigation and Charges

The cocaine has since been destroyed, and the French prosecutor has opened a formal investigation. France’s judicial police had been targeting the criminal network alleged to be behind the shipment before the seizure took place.

Charges under investigation include the organized importation of narcotics and participation in a criminal association, offenses that carry penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment under French law.

A Growing Trend in European Drug Trafficking

The record seizure underscores the growing challenge European authorities face as criminal networks increasingly exploit West African trade routes to smuggle narcotics into the continent. Ghana has emerged as a key transit point for cocaine produced in South America and destined for European markets.

The concealment method — hiding drugs within legitimate cargo shipments — is a common tactic used by trafficking organizations to evade detection at ports. The plastic waste shipment would have appeared routine to customs officials without targeted intelligence.

France’s Broader Drug Seizure Statistics

The Dunkirk operation is part of a broader escalation in French customs enforcement. In 2025, French customs seized 108.81 tonnes of narcotics across the country, covering all drug types, with an estimated total value of €2.197 billion. The latest seizure adds to an already significant year for French drug interdiction efforts.

Regional and International Implications

The fact that the shipment was destined for Antwerp highlights the interconnected nature of European drug trafficking networks. Antwerp has become one of Europe’s primary entry points for cocaine, with criminal gangs increasingly using smaller ports like Dunkirk as alternative routes to avoid heightened security at larger hubs.

The involvement of Ghana as the origin point also raises concerns about West Africa’s role in the global drug trade. The region has become a major transit corridor for cocaine flowing from South America to Europe, with criminal networks exploiting weak border controls and corruption in some countries.

French authorities have not yet announced any arrests in connection with the seizure, but the investigation remains ongoing. The destruction of the cocaine suggests authorities prioritized eliminating the narcotics from circulation rather than preserving it as evidence, though samples may have been retained for prosecution purposes.

Global Context

The seizure comes amid heightened international cooperation against drug trafficking, with European Union member states increasingly sharing intelligence and coordinating operations. The street value of the seized cocaine — over $260 million — represents a significant financial blow to the criminal network behind the shipment.

For Ghana, the incident highlights the need for strengthened port security and international cooperation to prevent the country from being used as a transit point for narcotics. The Ghanaian government has not yet issued a statement on the seizure.