President William Ruto departed Kenya on Monday, January 6, for Accra, Ghana, to attend the inauguration ceremony of Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama.
According to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed, the visit follows a special invitation extended by Mahama during his visit to Kenya on December 29, 2024.
While in Accra, President Ruto is expected to engage in discussions with fellow Heads of State and Government, including President-elect Mahama, focusing on areas of mutual interest such as trade, energy, oil, textiles, agriculture, and diplomatic relations.
“Kenya and Ghana share a long-standing, cordial relationship that dates back to the pre-independence era, with both countries drawing inspiration from each other’s liberation movements during their respective struggles for independence, guided by the spirit of pan-Africanism,” Hussein stated.
President Ruto will also advocate for reforms within the African Union to enhance institutional efficiency and strategic focus. Additionally, he will extend gratitude to Ghana for its support of Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position, underscoring Odinga’s leadership credentials and pan-African vision.
During Mahama’s December visit to Kenya, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration in sectors such as trade, investment, agriculture, mining, tourism, oil, and gas.
President Ruto emphasized Kenya’s commitment to deepening relations with Ghana under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to create broader opportunities for citizens of both nations.
“Kenya will enhance her relations with Ghana to include more sectors in trade and investment, agriculture, mining, tourism, oil, and gas. This will broaden opportunities for the people of the two countries and ensure our shared prosperity,” President Ruto noted.
The visit is seen as a significant step in reinforcing Kenya-Ghana bilateral ties and advancing regional integration efforts across Africa.