Ruto heads to Ghana for President-elect Mahama’s inauguration

President William Ruto on Monday departed the country for Accra, Ghana, to attend President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.

State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said Mahama invited Ruto to the event during his trip to Kenya on December 29.

“While in Accra, President Ruto will hold talks with heads of state and government, including President-elect Mahama, focusing on key areas of mutual interest and cooperation, including trade, energy, oil, textiles, agriculture and diplomatic relations,” he said.

Ruto is also set to discuss reforms of the African Union and thank Ghana for supporting Kenya’s candidate – former Prime Minister Raila Odinga – for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position, Mohamed added.

Mahama is Ghana’s opposition leader and won the presidential election last month with 56 per cent of the vote, defeating ruling party candidate and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia who earned 41 per cent.

This marked a comeback for the former president who ruled the West African country from 2012 to 2017.

Mahama replaces President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose last term was marked by Ghana's worst economic turmoil in years, a debt default and an IMF bailout deal.