President John Mahama has urged heads of state within the African Union (AU) to prioritise approaches that ensure accountability and the effective use of resources for the benefit of citizens.

The president was speaking at a two-day retreat in Nairobi, Kenya, where AU leaders gathered to discuss ways to revitalise the union.

“We must adopt mechanisms that prioritise accountability, transparency, and value for money, ensuring that every resource is maximised for the benefit of the African people,” he said.

According to him, efficiency should be the guiding principle for the AU to build trust among citizens and the diaspora.

He added that the African continent is currently facing challenges such as food insecurity, youth unemployment, climate change, conflict, and government deficits.

Mr Mahama believes these challenges can be addressed if governments prioritise accountability and the mindful use of state resources for the benefit of all, without personal or partisan interests.

The retreat brought together leaders from all AU member states, with the aim of developing new plans and ideas to make the African continent more self-reliant and improve the standard of living for the masses.

Back in his home country, President Mahama has been a key advocate for combating corruption and enhancing accountability and value for money.

As part of this, he initiated the implementation of the Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) programme even before he was officially sworn into office.