Governing Council of National African Peer Review Mechanism inaugurated
President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday swore in members of a new National African Peer Review Mechanism-Governing Council (NAPRM-GC) at the Flagstaff House, with a call on the council to assist the government to monitor the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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The UN General Assembly has endorsed 17 SDGs for implementation by member nations and the President counted on the expertise of members of the council to implement at least 13 of them.
APRM
The APRM is an instrument agreed by the African Union under the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to strengthen good governance in Africa.
The seven-member national council is chaired by the Director of Research of the Association of African Universities, Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr.
The other members are Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Executive Director, LECIAD; Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, Chairman, the National Development Planning Commission; the Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, Chairman, National Peace Council; Dr Lawrence Kannae, Vice-Chairman, Public Services Commission; Mr Richard Quayson, acting Commissioner, CHRAJ and Mr Samuel Asare Akuamoah, acting Chairman, NCCE.
The mandate of the council is to ensure that policies and practices of the country conform to the agreed values of democracy and political, economic, corporate governance and socio-economic development.
Review
Ghana is one of the countries that acceded to the APRM.
It successfully went through the first review and is currently one of the candidates for a second review.
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Opportunities
President Mahama said the inauguration of the new council created opportunities for the country to advance its democratic credentials.
He said since economic development was dependent on a good political environment, the APRM would provide a vehicle for achieving economic growth.
One of the striking features of Ghana's APRM is that it has served as a learning ground for some countries.
Some of the contributions the APRM has made to Ghana's development are opening up the political space for citizens' participation, good governance and the passage of a number of legislation, including the National Gender Policy, the establishment of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs and SADA.
President Mahama expressed the hope that the council would live up to expectation.
Response
Responding, Prof. Sawyerr assured the President that the council would not disappoint him and the nation.