President Akufo-Addo, has charged Council members of Ghana’s African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM body to ensure that they access and review the country independently, professionally and objectively based on the criteria set out by the APRM.
Ghana, according to the President, “is committed to the African Peer Review Mechanism to which it acceded and is determined to submit herself for a second review after the first review which took place in 2006, during the presidency of John Kufour.
Addressing the 7-member Council at the Jubilee House today 14 July 2022, after administering the official oath and the oath of secrecy to them, President Akufo-Addo said, “the realization of this (the 2nd review) will mean that Ghana can join others on the continent who have undertaken their second reviews”.
“I want to assure the governing council of government’s determination to ensure that this is done so our country can continue to maintain and strengthen her status as a trailblazer of good governance in West Africa,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“The independence and political neutrality of Ghana’s governing council is crucial to the successful execution of its mandate”.
“I charge all of you to remain independent, professional and dedicated to the objectives of the APRM in accessing and reviewing governance under the four thematic areas of democracy and political governance, economic governance and management, corporate governance and broad base socio-economic development” the President added.
Logistical challenges
In his address, President Akufo-Addo observed that he is well aware of the accommodation and logistical challenges bedevilling the work of the council. He assured them that his office has initiated the process to address all the loopholes hindering the work of the Council.
“I assure you that these deficiencies will soon be addressed. I have been informed of the process currently ongoing for the enactment of an enabling Act of Parliament for the Council which I hope can be expedited”.
In spite of her enviable position in the APRM, President Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana “has never been represented in the African Peer Review Panel”.
“This is a charge I am putting before you. Demonstrate to the continent once again, Ghana’s worth and capability by getting her onto the APR panel” President Akufo-Addo noted.
Response
Council member, Mr Samuel Akuamoah Asare, in his response to the charge of the President noted that he and his colleagues are grateful to the President for appointing them and for acknowledging that the Council has clear and present challenges which his government intends to address.
He expressed optimism about the promise of the President to fix the logistical challenges of APRM, Ghana. He together with colleagues he said, will work hard to see to it that Ghana submits herself for the much delayed 2nd review.
Council members
The APRM council comprises of Most Rev Professor Emmanuel Asante, Mr Samuel Akuamoah Asare, Mr Richard Quayson, Mr Laud Mansfield Baddoo, and Mrs Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Mr David Asante-Apeatu and Kathleen Quartey-Ayensu.
The APRM
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) was established in 2003 by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC), as an instrument for African Union (AU) the Member States to voluntarily self-monitor their governance performance.
APRM is a voluntary arrangement amongst African states to systematically assess and review governance at the Head of State peer level to promote political stability, accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration, economic growth and sustainable development.
By acceding to the APRM, Member States agree to independently review their compliance with African and international governance commitments.
Performance and progress are measured in four thematic areas, namely, democracy and political governance, economic governance and management, corporate governance and socio-economic development.
Each review leads to a national programme of action for the state concerned to address the problems identified.
A national monitoring body prepares six-monthly and annual reports on progress in implementing the national programme of action for submission to meetings of the APRM Forum of Heads of State and Government.
Country review reports are made available to the public after the APRM Forum peer review.