AU Commission Pledges Full Support as Mahama Prepares to Assume Continental Chairmanship in 2027

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, led a high-level delegation to Accra on Friday for a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama, pledging the Commission's full institutional backing as the Ghanaian leader prepares to assume the rotating AU Chairmanship in January 2027.

The meeting at the Presidency centred on the continent's strategic priorities, with discussions spanning financial autonomy for the Union, reparative justice, regional security and economic sovereignty. The visit underscores deepening coordination between the AU Commission and Ghana's incoming leadership ahead of the handover.

A Mandate Rooted in Continental Experience

President Mahama's impending chairmanship follows his endorsement by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in December 2025 to represent West Africa on the AU Assembly Bureau. His selection brings a lengthy record of continental engagement to the role: he is a former Chairperson of the ECOWAS Commission and a former head of the AU's High-Level African Trade Committee, and he played an instrumental role in laying the groundwork for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is hosted in Accra. President Mahama has signalled that his tenure will prioritise continental integration, accelerated AfCFTA implementation, and peace and security across conflict zones.

Chairperson Youssouf, a veteran Djiboutian diplomat who assumed the AU Commission helm in March 2025, commended President Mahama's leadership on reparations and financial reform, describing the discussions as "fruitful."

Financial Sovereignty Tops Agenda

A central pillar of the talks was the urgent need to strengthen the AU's financial autonomy through full implementation of the 0.2 percent levy on eligible imports. President Mahama urged member states to honour their commitments, drawing a direct comparison to ECOWAS's 0.5 percent community levy, which finances the regional bloc's operations.

"It's not government money to the AU; it's the people's money. Government is only a collecting agency," President Mahama stated during the talks, emphasising that the levy represents a collective investment by African citizens rather than a discretionary government contribution. He pledged to engage fellow African leaders to build consensus and secure full implementation — a commitment the AU Commission Chairperson welcomed.

Reparations and Global Financial Architecture

The delegation commended President Mahama's advocacy for reparative justice, particularly Ghana's role in mobilising international support that contributed to a historic UN General Assembly resolution on reparations. President Mahama stressed that reparations must transcend financial compensation to address the structural legacies of slavery and colonialism — including reform of the global financial architecture, debt relief, investment in education and healthcare, and the restitution of African cultural artefacts.

The two leaders also discussed leveraging Ghana's engagement with the G20 to advance Africa's priorities on debt sustainability and fairer access to development financing. President Mahama outlined Ghana's determination to advance economic sovereignty through value addition, local content and greater control over the continent's natural resources, moving beyond the export of raw materials.

Security and Regional Cohesion

On peace and security, the discussions addressed the volatile Sahel region and the need for constructive engagement with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Chairperson Youssouf commended President Mahama's ongoing efforts to bridge divisions between ECOWAS and the AES, emphasising the importance of an inclusive regional approach to counterterrorism and instability. Migration governance was also on the agenda, with both leaders underscoring the need for dialogue, solidarity and coordinated continental responses.

President Mahama further briefed the delegation on the Accra Reset Initiative, a Ghanaian-led effort to advance Africa's health sovereignty through expanded vaccine production, improved access to medicines and strengthened health systems.

Looking Ahead

The courtesy call concluded with a reaffirmation of African unity and the importance of speaking with one voice on the global stage. With President Mahama's assumption of the AU Chairmanship set for January 2027, the AU Commission's pledged support signals a collaborative approach to tackling the continent's most pressing challenges — from financing its own institutions to securing a fairer place in the global economic order.