Former President Nana Akufo-Addo has extended his deepest condolences to the people of Kenya and the family of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, who passed away in India earlier on Tuesday.

In a post on his Facebook page, the former president described Mr. Odinga as a “great son of Africa” and a personal friend whose passing has been met with widespread sorrow across the continent.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the people of the great sisterly nation of Kenya, President William Samoei Ruto, and to the family of the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga,” Nana Akufo-Addo wrote.

“News of the passing of this great son of Africa, who, for a long time, was a very good friend of mine, has been received with widespread sadness.”

The former president recounted his long-standing friendship and shared ideals with Mr. Odinga, highlighting their common vision for strengthening democracy and promoting human rights across Africa.

“Aside the many encounters and thought-experiences upon which we held deep convictions, Prime Minister Odinga and I shared mutual values on strengthening democracy and advancing the human rights of Africa’s citizens,” he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo also recalled the late Kenyan Prime Minister's attendance at his inauguration ceremony on January 7, 2017, as one of the distinguished dignitaries at the Independence Square in Accra.

He further revealed Ghana’s unwavering support for Mr. Odinga’s 2024 bid for the position of African Union Commission Chairperson, a campaign that brought both the Kenyan President William Ruto and Mr. Odinga himself to Accra that year.

“As a founding member of the African Union, I pledged Ghana’s support, without hesitation, when President Ruto visited Ghana to secure our backing for Prime Minister Odinga’s candidacy. Indeed, he visited me himself in November 2024 as part of his campaign,” Mr. Mahama said.

Describing the late statesman as a pillar of Kenya’s democratic evolution, Nana Akufo-Addo paid tribute to Mr. Odinga’s “remarkable footprints on Kenya’s stability, democracy, and history,” adding that he will be “sorely missed.”