Seven agreements between Kenya and Ghana have been signed to strengthen their bilateral ties.
Aiming to promote trade and investment between the two countries, President William Ruto stated that the MoUs, some of which have been signed by business associations from Ghana and Kenya, are part of this effort.
According to Ruto, increased business, private sector, and people-to-people exchanges are the objectives.
Additional Memorandums of Understanding cover collaboration in science and technology, tourism, education, governance, and defense.
"During my discussions with President Nana 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.
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Following their discussions during President Ruto's State Visit to Ghana, he made these statements at a press conference held at President Akufo-Addo's office.
President Ruto applauded Ghana's decision to do away with the need for visas for all Africans by the end of the year to strengthen 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.
President Ruto emphasized that increased trade, investment, and tourism between Kenya and Ghana result from the free movement of people. This comes after Kenya removed the need for a visa for tourists from all nations in January 2024.
According to him, Kenya and Ghana will use the Africa Continental Free TradeTrade's advantages to increase trade between their two countries.
Africa is the next frontier of trade and investment, and any business and entrepreneur not planning about the continent will be left behind.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) April 3, 2024
With 60 per cent of the world's renewable energy, 65 per cent of uncultivated arable land and a huge youth population, Africa will be one… pic.twitter.com/OEokbCBulr
"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.
The President flagged off the first shipment of Kenyan tea in October 2022 from Nairobi to Ghana.
"On 23rd September, 2023, Kenyan-made Chloride Exide batteries worth about KSh9.3 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.
According to President Ruto, the two countries are committed to working together to combat terrorism, violent extremism, internal conflicts, and wars, preserving peace and stability and thereby advancing regional development.
"Our conversations have made it abundantly evident that, in order for Africa to experience economic growth, we must step up our efforts to put an end to gun violence," the speaker stated.
According to the President, Africa has a greater chance of successfully executing its climate action agenda if its leaders work together.
Kenya and Ghana have worked closely in their efforts to make African integration a reality. Our history of Pan-Africanism from the 1940s has carved a path for our two countries to once again lead the way in Africa's agenda for trade integration in the 21st Century.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) April 3, 2024
Kenya and… pic.twitter.com/OOsE5u88vo
Ruto claims that last December and beyond, in the lead-up to COP28, the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi last September gave the African leadership a forum to establish a distinct shared stance in the global climate action discourse.
The two leaders also discussed institutional changes that the African Union needs to make to fulfill its mission and carry out Agenda 2063.
This entails the necessity of restructuring the institutions of the African Union, finalizing the allocation of responsibilities among the Organs of the African Union Commission, Specialized Agencies, and Regional Economic Communities, and streamlining the Pan-African Parliament's agenda to encompass critical matters.
In 2025, President Akufo-Addo pledged to back Kenya's bid to lead the African Union Commission as its chairperson.
Simultaneously, President Ruto assured Ghana that Kenya would back Ms. Shirley Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, in her bid to become the Commonwealth Secretary-General from 2024 to 2029.
