NAIROBI – President William Ruto is pushing to revamp ties with West Africa through trade and climate change agenda as he embarks on visits to Ghana and Guinea Bissau this week.
State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed on Tuesday formally announced President Ruto’s state visit to Ghana, which will be followed by an official visit to Guinea Bissau.
President Ruto will seek to strengthen diplomatic, trade cooperation, and historical ties with the two countries, Hussein said in a press statement.
During his visits, the President will hold talks with Presidents Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau.
TRADE AND AFCFTA
“In Ghana, President Ruto will emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts to strengthen and consolidate democratic governance in Africa. He will also visit the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) headquarters in Accra, with a focus on boosting Kenyan tea and leather exports to Ghana,” Hussein said.
An MoU between private and public sector entities of the two states aimed at improving bilateral trade under the AfCFTA framework will also be signed.
In October 2022, Kenya exported its first goods of locally made car batteries and tea to Ghana under the AfCFTA.
However, trade between the two countries remains low, only amounting to $9.5 million in 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE data.
There have, however, been efforts to increase the numbers, with the High Commission of Ghana in Nairobi launching the Ghana Trade House at the Sameer Business Park along Mombasa Road in May 2023.
The High Commission also held its maiden Ghana Expo in Nairobi in May, when both Ghanaian exhibitors and Kenyan businesses participated.
Among those present were Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry in charge of International Trade Nana Asiamah-Adjei, Ghana Exports Promotion Authority CEO Dr. Afua Asabea Asare and Ghana AfCFTA National Coordination Office Coordinator Dr. Fareed Arthur, indicating the interest to improve the numbers.
Officials from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Association of Ghana Industries and Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ghana Free Zones Authority and the Ministry of Trade and Industry also attended.
Damptey Bediako Asare, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Kenya, in his remarks stated that purpose of the Trade House is to serve as a one-stop-shop outlet in East Africa for Made-in-Ghana products.
In Accra, Ruto will also address the Ghana-Kenya Business Forum to explore investment and trade opportunities across various sectors.
Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who participated in the Kenya-Ghana Bilateral Cooperation Meeting on Tuesday, said Kenya and Ghana would sign bilateral agreements in trade and investment, education and research, public service, and capacity building.
CLIMATE CHANGE
President Ruto, who has prioritised climate change agenda in his foreign policy, will push for transforming the AU into a leading force for continental unity and economic revitalization, engaging other regions worldwide in his capacity as the Champion for Institutional Reform and Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, Hussein said.
“In his meeting with President Akufo-Addo, discussions will also centre on the climate crisis and Ghana’s support for implementing the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change, especially the Africa Green Industrial Initiative,” he added.
AGII seeks to upscale and accelerate green industries and businesses across Africa.
Like Ruto, Ghana’s President Akuffo-Addo, who is also the chairman of the Climate Vulnerable Forum CVF, has demanded for a comprehensive reassessment of the international financial architecture to expedite and align it with climate action.
In Guinea-Bissau, President Ruto aims to enhance trade relations and identify new avenues for cooperation with Lusophone Africa under the ACFTA. Among the sectors he targets are agriculture, manufacturing, and technology transfer.
President Embaló was among leaders who attended Ruto’s inauguration.
Other than Guinea Bissau, the other Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa are Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Equatorial Guinea.
Kenya has only mainly engaged Angola and Mozambique, where it has diplomatic representation.
And with the visit coming at a time Kenya is pushing for Raila Odinga’s candidature as African Union Commission chairman, it is expected Ruto will personally lobby for the support of the two states.
