President William Ruto has today, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, announced Ghana's decision to back ODM Leader Raila Odinga's bid for the African Union (AU) chairmanship.

President Ruto who is visiting in Accra, revealed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had chosen to back AU's announcement in March this year that it's next leader shall be from East Africa.

"On 15th March 2024, the African Union Executive Council unanimously decided that candidates for the position of the next Chairperson of the Africa Union Commission would be nominated by the Eastern African regional States in accordance with the Statute of the AU Commission, the Rules of Procedure, the African Union policy organs and the decisions of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government," said Ruto.

"Your excellency (Nana), 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), which has been initiated following a comprehensive Stakeholder engagement process across government."

President Ruto praised Raila as a known Pan-African leader fit to champion the continent's aspirations.

"Kenya’s candidature is informed by our leading role in enhancing and sustaining the Pan-African Agenda in terms of independence and sovereignty, peace and security, development and prosperity, as well as sustainability and climate action. We hope to work with all as we try to achieve Agenda 2063," said Ruto.

Raila's bid for the AU top job is gaining momentum with a number of leaders from the region already backing him. These leaders include Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Tanzanian counterpart Suluhu, Rwanda's Paul Kagame, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, DRC's Felix Tsishekedi, and now Ghana's Addo, among others.

Raila has expressed confidence at clinching the AU top job and is expected to hold meetings with more African leaders to solidify his bid.