By Peter Ochieng
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship got a major boost on Wednesday, after President William Ruto secured Ghana’s support, on his behalf.
Ruto who is in Ghana for a State visit confirmed that the West African nation had endorsed Odinga’s bid, after holding talks with President Nana Akufo-Addo.
“Your Excellency, my dear Brother, I thank you most sincerely for accepting to support Kenya’s candidature for the position of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (2025-2028),” said Ruto.
In return, the President affirmed that Kenya would support Ghana’s candidate for the position of Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
“On our part, I have assured His Excellency that Kenya will support the Republic of Ghana for the candidature of Hon Shirley Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, for the position of Secretary General of the Commonwealth for the period 2024-2029,” he said.
AUC elections will be held in February, 2025. Odinga is in the running to succeed Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat, who is nearing the end of his second and last term in office.
He stands a chance of becoming the first East African to hold the position, after members of the African Union Executive Council, last month unanimously resolved that candidates for the position of the next chairperson of the AU Commission, would be nominated by the Eastern African regional States.
Odinga has already recieved the backing of several African leaders, among them former Nigeria President Olusegon Obasanjo, Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Uganda’s Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi.
Meanwhile, Kenya and Ghana have signed seven agreements aimed at enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries.
President William Ruto said the MoUs, including some signed by business associations from Kenya and Ghana, are aimed at facilitating trade and investment between Kenya and Ghana.
The goal is s to expand opportunities for business, the private sector and people of the two nations.
Other MoUs include cooperation in science and technology, tourism, education, governance and defence.