President Mahama tipped for AU chairmanship in 2027 – Ablakwa

The President of Ghana, President John Dramani Mahama is expected to ascend to the African Union Commission (AU) chairmanship in 2017.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, expressed optimism that President Mahama could be elected as Chairman of the AU in 2027. He noted that the President’s experience and leadership credentials place him in a strong position to spearhead the continent’s vision of unity and development.

President Mahama has already indicated he will not seek a third term in Ghana, but with three years remaining in his mandate, many African leaders are looking to him to chart a path of prosperity and stability.

Africa, with its population of over 1.4 billion people and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat headquartered in Accra, Ghana, is strategically positioned to shape global trade. Ablakwa believes Mahama’s leadership at the AU would strengthen Africa’s voice in global economic and political affairs, particularly in building stronger partnerships with Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Mahama’s track record in regional leadership

President Mahama is no stranger to continental leadership. During his first term in office, he served as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from March 2014 to May 2015. Under his chairmanship, he coordinated West Africa’s collective response to the Ebola epidemic in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. He also mediated political crises in Burkina Faso and Mali, earning respect as a consensus-builder and statesman.

In addition, Mahama has worked with the African Union in peace and security initiatives and supported AU and UN peacekeeping missions with Ghanaian troops. His advocacy for regional integration and infrastructural development has often been aligned with the AU’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous and politically united Africa.

The position of AU Chairperson is not a permanent post but rotates annually among the five African regions: North, South, East, West, and Central Africa. The election takes place during the AU Heads of State and Government Summit, where leaders reach a consensus or vote on the chair. The Chairperson is usually a sitting Head of State chosen to represent the Union and coordinate its activities for a one-year term.

Given Mahama’s stature as a former ECOWAS Chairman and his renewed mandate in Ghana, many analysts believe he will be strongly considered when West Africa’s turn to lead the AU comes.

Ablakwa stressed that Mahama’s leadership would bring renewed transformation and deepen Africa’s engagement with global partners. He said the prospect of Mahama at the helm of the AU inspires confidence across the continent.

By Fred Duhoe, in Singapore City, Singapore

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