President William Ruto has lauded Ghana’s President-elect John Dramani Mahama for endorsing Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson position.
The two leaders held a high-profile meeting in Kilgoris, Narok County on Sunday, December 29, 2024, where they discussed avenues for deepening bilateral relations and advancing intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ruto highlighted the discussions, emphasizing the potential for collaboration in sectors such as agriculture, mining, tourism, and oil and gas.
“Kenya will enhance her relations with Ghana to cover more sectors of trade and investment including agriculture, mining, tourism, oil, and gas. This will broaden opportunities for the people of the two countries and sustain our shared prosperity,” Ruto’s statement read.
Ruto commited to AfCFTA
The meeting underscored the shared vision between Kenya and Ghana to expand intra-African trade.
Both leaders expressed their commitment to leveraging AfCFTA to unlock economic opportunities across the continent, creating a framework for enhanced connectivity and prosperity for African nations.
Ghana was selected to host the AfCFTA Secretariat in July 2019, ahead of six other countries including Kenya.
President Ruto also expressed his gratitude to Mahama for supporting Raila’s bid for the AUC Chairmanship.
“We thanked him for declaring his support for Raila Odinga‘s African Union Commission Chairperson candidature,” Ruto said.
Raila is considered a frontrunner for the influential position, with endorsements from several African leaders bolstering his candidacy.
Mahama’s inauguration
In a further show of solidarity, President Ruto confirmed his attendance at Mahama’s swearing-in ceremony in Accra next month.
“We also agreed to grace his swearing-in in Accra next month,” Ruto noted in his statement.
The meeting in Kilgoris was also attended by Raila Odinga, who played a key role in the discussions.
His presence reinforced the unity of purpose between the leaders and highlighted Kenya’s support for the AfCFTA and Raila’s AUC candidacy.
Strengthening Pan-African ties
Ruto’s outreach to Ghana’s President-elect signals Kenya’s proactive stance in fostering strategic alliances within Africa.
The growing partnership between Kenya and Ghana is seen as a vital step in aligning the continent’s economic and political priorities, with the AUC Chairmanship election being a central focus in the coming months.
