The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is leading a committee of experts tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy and implementation document to guide President John Dramani Mahama’s agenda when Ghana assumes the rotating chairmanship of the African Union in 2027.
The committee brings together senior career diplomats, serving officials within the African Union system and former ambassadors with extensive experience in African diplomacy and multilateral affairs. Its mandate is to draw on that expertise to develop a strategic framework that will identify the priorities Ghana should advance during its year at the helm of the continental body.
As part of the process, Mr Ablakwa has called for contributions from Ghanaians, Africans on the continent and members of the African diaspora on the issues and initiatives they believe President Mahama should champion during Ghana’s tenure. The consultation is intended to ensure that the strategy reflects not only government priorities but wider African and diaspora perspectives.
“A high level committee of experts has been working on an African Union Strategy and Implementation Document for President John Mahama’s consideration as President Mahama prepares to Chair the African Union from January next year.,…Kindly share your thoughts on the issues you will want President Mahama to prioritise as AU Chairman.” he stated
Among the issues already emerging as potential priorities are deeper economic integration between Africa and the Caribbean and a stronger institutional framework for reconnecting Africans on the continent with people of African descent in the diaspora.
During his official visit to Jamaica earlier this month, President Mahama outlined two initiatives he intends to advance as part of his broader Pan-African agenda.
The first is a proposal to explore an expansion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework to create stronger economic linkages with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In discussions with Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, on August 4, President Mahama argued that the existing relationship between the African Union and CARICOM could provide a foundation for deeper economic integration, particularly in trade and investment.
He argued that stronger economic links between the two regions could connect Africa’s market of more than 1.4 billion people with the Caribbean and create opportunities for trade, investment and industrial cooperation. Ghana has previously advocated stronger economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean, including through platforms such as the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum and AfCFTA.
The second initiative centres on the rights and return of people of African descent in the diaspora. President Mahama has advocated a framework that would facilitate the return, residence and participation of members of the African diaspora in Africa’s economic and social development, building on Ghana’s longstanding efforts to strengthen ties with the diaspora.
The proposal also fits into President Mahama’s broader continental role on reparatory justice. The African Union appointed him as its Champion for advancing the cause of justice and reparations for Africans and people of African descent, a mandate that has already resulted in the establishment of continental mechanisms including the AU Committee of Experts on Reparations and the Reference Group of Legal Experts.
The expertise assembled on the committee reflects the breadth of experience Ghana intends to draw on in preparing for the AU leadership.
Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas brings extensive experience in African diplomacy, regional integration and peace and security. He has served as ECOWAS Commission President, UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel and UN Special Representative for Central Africa. His experience in mediating political crises and working across African regional institutions places him among Ghana’s most experienced continental diplomats.
Ambassador Kwasi Quartey is a former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, having served in the position from 2017 to 2021. He previously held senior positions within Ghana’s foreign service and government and brings direct experience of the AU Commission’s political and administrative processes to the committee.
Ambassador Chris Kpodo is also a veteran Ghanaian diplomat who has served in senior diplomatic and governmental positions, including as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. His experience in Ghana’s foreign policy establishment and diplomatic missions provides additional institutional knowledge for the preparation of the strategy.
Ambassador Amma A. Twum-Amoah brings perhaps the most direct current experience from within the AU system. She currently serves as the AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development. Before her election to the Commission, she served as Ghana’s Ambassador to Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan and as Permanent Representative to the AU and UNECA. She has also held senior positions within Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director of the Economic, Trade and Investment Bureau.
Dr Delese Mimi Darko, the former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority, brings expertise in health regulation and institutional development. She is now the inaugural Director-General of the African Medicines Agency, giving the committee access to experience in building and strengthening continental institutions and regulatory systems.
Ambassador William Awinador-Kanyirige is another experienced Ghanaian diplomat with a background in multilateral affairs and African governance. His diplomatic career includes service as Ghana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Ethiopia and the African Union, as well as work within the AU system on governance and peacebuilding.
The committee also includes former National Security Coordinator Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, whose experience spans Ghana’s security architecture and regional security issues. He has subsequently served as Ghana’s Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, giving him particular experience in the security challenges confronting West Africa.
Dr Edem Adzogenu brings experience from the private sector and continental economic integration. He is a co-founder and co-chair of the AfroChampions Initiative, which works around African trade, investment and economic integration. His inclusion provides an economic and private-sector perspective to discussions on how Ghana could use the AU chairmanship to advance intra-African trade and investment.
Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, Chief Director of Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brings extensive institutional and administrative experience from the country’s foreign service. She has also played a central role in the ministry’s engagement with the African Union and other multilateral institutions. AU records identify her as Ghana’s Chief Director in engagements involving the country’s continental diplomacy.
Ambassador Francis D. Kotia, the Ministry’s Coordinating Director for Multilateral Affairs and International Organisations, also brings extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy. He opened Ghana’s 2026 African Union Day commemoration in his capacity as Coordinating Director and has been involved in Ghana’s engagement with the AU and other international organisations.
Dr Obodai Torto contributes an academic and research perspective, particularly in the areas of African affairs, peacebuilding and international relations, while Clarence Amoatey brings experience in strategic communications, public relations, media and event management. Amoatey is General Manager of Touchpoint Magna Carta and has more than a decade of experience in communications, including media planning, reputation management and strategy.
President Mahama is expected to assume the AU Chairmanship in 2027 as Ghana progresses through the rotational system of the AU Bureau, which represents the continent’s five regions. Ghana moved from Third Vice-Chairperson in 2024 to Second Vice-Chairperson in 2025 and First Vice-Chairperson in 2026, positioning it to take up the substantive chairmanship in 2027.
The AU Chairperson serves a one-year term and provides political leadership to the Union, chairs the Assembly of Heads of State and Government and represents the organisation in major continental and international engagements. The position also provides an opportunity to influence consensus around issues such as peace and security, economic integration, development and Africa’s role in global affairs.
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