President John Mahama has called for proactive measures to address the challenges facing the African continent.

Speaking at a two-day retreat in Nairobi, Kenya, where African Union (AU) leaders gathered to discuss ways to revitalise the union, Mahama said, "Our continent faces a unique set of challenges."

He highlighted issues such as "youth unemployment, food insecurity, climate change, governance deficits, and conflicts in many regions" as key concerns for Africa. Mahama also pointed out the global shifts that demand a reimagining of Africa’s role on the world stage.

He urged the AU to become "more agile, efficient, and impactful in addressing these new challenges," adding that the Union must streamline its decision-making process to ensure timely and resource-oriented outcomes.

"Bureaucratic inefficiencies undermine the confidence of our citizens and international partners, and overlapping mandates hinder effective decision-making," he explained.

He suggested that clarifying the roles of the AU Commission and eliminating redundancies could create a more agile organisation, better equipped to meet the continent's evolving needs.

Having assumed office as Ghana's president just over two weeks ago, Mahama emphasised that "efficiency must be the guiding principle in how we conduct our affairs," ensuring that policies and programmes translate into tangible improvements for the people.

The event was attended by other heads of state from across Africa and hosted by Kenya's President William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto.