Ruto makes deal with Ghana on Raila top AU job

Kenya yesterday struck a deal with Ghana which will see Accra support Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship.

In return, Nairobi will support Ghana’s candidate for Commonwealth Secretary General’s position.

President Ruto confirmed that Ghana has accepted to support Raila’s candidature for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (2025-28) which has been initiated following a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process across government.

“I thank you most sincerely for accepting to support Kenya’s candidature for the position of the chairperson of the African Union Commission.

"Kenya’s candidature is informed by our leading role in enhancing and sustaining the Pan-African Agenda in terms of independence and sovereignty, peace and security, development and prosperity, as well as sustainability and climate action. We hope to work with all as we try to achieve Agenda 2063,” Ruto said during a meeting with his Ghana’s counterpart in Accra,” President Ruto said.

He continued: “On our part, I have assured President Nana Akufo-Addo that Kenya will support the Republic of Ghana for the candidature of Shirley Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, for the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth for the period 2024-29.”

President Ruto had on March 15 said the African Union Executive Council unanimously decided that candidates for the position of the next chairperson of the African Union Commission would be nominated by the Eastern African regional States in accordance with the Statute of AU Commission, the Rules of Procedure, African Union policy organs and decisions of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government.

The two Heads of State also discussed and agreed that reforms are needed to give Africa a fit-for-purpose institution for the effective implementation of Agenda 2063. This include the need to restructure the African Union organs, the concluded division of labour between the AU Commission Organs, Specialised Agencies and Regional Economic Communities, as well as the need to streamline agenda of the Assembly to cover strategic issues among others.

Coveted position

President Ruto has already set up four teams to enhance Raila’s chances of clinching the coveted position. He has organised four teams to spearhead the campaign, each with distinct roles.

In February, Ruto took the campaigns to Uganda where he won the support of President Yoweri Museveni. He was accompanied by Raila during the one-day visit.

Yesterday, Kenya and Ghana signed seven agreements aimed at enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries.

President Ruto said the MoUs, including some signed by business associations from Kenya and Ghana, are aimed at facilitating trade and investment between the two nations.

The goal, he said, is to expand opportunities for business, the private sector and peoples of the two nations. Other MoUs include cooperation in science and technology, tourism, education, governance and defence.

“During my discussions with President Akufo-Addo, we have noted that these agreements are significant in the evolution of our diplomatic ties, which stand on warm and cordial, dynamic and impactful historic collaboration,” he said. President Ruto commended Ghana’s decision to remove visa requirements for all Africans by the end of the year, a move aimed at enhancing the continent’s integration.

“This commitment aligns with one of the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area to create a single market in the continent and to drive economic growth, job creation and poverty eradication,” he said.

Kenya, too, did away with visa requirements for visitors from all countries in January this year. President Ruto pointed out that the free movement of people has contributed to growth in trade, investment and tourism between Kenya and Ghana.

He said the two nations will use the opportunities provided by the Africa Continental Free Trade to further boost trade between Kenya and Ghana.

“President Akufo-Addo and I are encouraged that under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, our two countries have taken bold measures to explore these opportunities,” he said. In October 2022, the President flagged off the inaugural shipment of Kenyan tea from Nairobi to Ghana.

“On September 23, 2023, Kenyan-made Chloride Exide batteries worth about Sh9.3 million landed in the Ghanaian Port of Tema, while Little Cab, a taxi-hailing service from Kenya, is now also operational in Ghana,” he added.

Ruto said the two nations are determined to collaborate in tackling internal conflicts, wars, terrorism and violent extremism, aiming to safeguard peace and stability and thus promote regional development.“It has become clear in our discussions that we have to redouble our efforts to silence the guns in Africa as a vital condition for economic growth,” he said.

Better chance

The President said through the unity of African leadership, the continent stands a better chance of effectively implementing its climate action agenda.

He said the first-ever Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi last September served as a platform for the African leadership to define a clear common position in the global climate action discourse in the run up to COP28 last December and beyond.

The two leaders also discussed institutional reforms at the African Union aimed at making the continental organisation fit-for-purpose and for the effective implementation of Agenda 2063.

This includes the need to restructure the African Union organs, conclude the division of labour between the AU Commission Organs, Specialised Agencies and Regional Economic Communities, as well as the need to streamline the agenda of the Pan-African Parliament to cover strategic issues.