Africa-Press – Ghana. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Thursday swore in the members of the Governing Council of the National African Peer Review Mechanism, charging the Council to ensure Ghana submits herself for a second review under the Mechanism.
That, he said, will ensure that “our country can continue to maintain and strengthen its status as a trailblazer of good governance in West Africa”. The members of the new Council are Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, Mr. Richard Quayson, Mr. Samuel Akuamoah Asare, Mr. Laud Mansfield Baddoo, Mrs. Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Hon. Kathleen Quartey Ayensu and Mr. David Asante-Apeatu.
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), established in 2003, which is a component of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) initiated by the African Union, aims at fostering the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration.
Ghana was one of the first countries to submit herself to the APRM process, successfully undergoing its fist review in 2006 at the AU Summit in Khartoum, Sudan At a ceremony at the Jubilee House, Accra, President Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana’s role in the APRM has been pivotal since its inception.
He said Ghana was passionate about the Mechanism and had fulfilled its primary mandate through the conduct of the first -ever country self-assessment, reiterating the Ghana’s commitment and determination to submit herself to a second review.
“The realisation of this will mean that Ghana is able to join others on the continent who have undertaken their second reviews…so our country can continue to maintain and strengthen its status as a trailblazer of good governance in West Africa”.
The President who was unhappy that despite Ghana’s enviable position within the APRM, it had not had a representation on the African Peer Review Panel, and charged the Governing Council do all it can to ensure that the country is represented on the Panel.
“This is a charge I am putting before you, distinguished Members of the Council. Demonstrate to the continent, once again, Ghana’s worth and capability by getting her onto the APRP,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo congratulated the members on their appointment and assured that the government would address the challenges of insufficient budgetary allocation and office accommodation for the Council.
“I have been informed of the process currently ongoing for the enactment of an enabling Act of Parliament for the Council, which I hope would be expedited.
Mr Samuel Akuamoah Asare expressed appreciation to the President for the confidence reposed in members of the Governing Council and assured that it (Council) would live up to expectation.
“We will remain independent and very professional in dealing with all the country assessment and reviews that would come up during their term of office. And We will dedicate ourselves to the objectives to which the APRM was established,” he said.
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