The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) marks its tenth milestone this year on the theme “APRM: Working for the Peoples of Africa.” This important event was commemorated at Apam in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region on March 8, 2013.
It was attended by Mr. E.K. T. Addo, Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe, member of the Council of State and former Central Regional Minister, and Honourable Theophilus Addo, Gomoa West District Chief Executive. Also in attendance was Ambassador Ashraf Rashed, the APRM Eminent Panel Member for Ghana, who was accompanied by Ms. Betty Ddungu of the APR Secretariat. Prof. S.K.B. Asante, Prof. Miranda Greenstreet and Mr. Nutifafa Kuenyehia, all members of the National APRM Governing Council also attended the event.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Honourable Hannah Tetteh, was represented by Dr. Kojo Alabo, Director of the Africa Bureau at the ministry.
Nana Edu Effirim X, Chief of Apam chaired the occasion. The event began with a float by school children through the streets of Apam. The school children also performed a sketch on governance.
In the keynote address read on her behalf by Dr. Alabo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs commended the APRM for making significant progress in terms of the number of countries on the continent that have acceded to the APR process as well as the level of participation and engagement of stakeholders. Despite this progress, she called on a redoubling of efforts to ensure national ownership and achieve inclusion of the all stakeholders, as well as implement the recommendations emanating from the reviews undertaken. She also called for increased public awareness as the APRM was relatively unknown to the people.
Ambassador Ashraf Rashed in congratulating Ghana on its 56th independence anniversary said that Ghana continues to play an active role in Africa resulting in its present status as a beacon of peace following many successful elections. He also referred to the lack of awareness about APRM in Africa suggesting that participating countries should reach out to civil society, the private sector and the youth.
Ambassador Rashed commended the NAPRM Governing Council and secretariat for the quality of their work including the National Plan of Action which in his view is an example for the rest of Africa. He called on all stakeholders to support the process of the 2nd Review.
Prof. S.K.B. Asante, Member of the Governing Council, said Ghana was the first to set up District Oversight Committees to carry out the objectives of the APRM on the ground. It has also shared its experiences with other participating African countries and facilitated the passage of laws in the country. Prof. Asante was unhappy that the vibrancy of the APRM in Africa was waning and called for the provision of financial and other resources to carry out its programmes. He also called for an improvement of tools to firmly establish an accountable and transparent government in Ghana.
The Central Regional Minister Mr. Addo delivered a special congratulatory message from President H.E. John Mahama. In his message the President thanked the Governing Council for the good work done to the people of Ghana in the area of governance. He also thanked the team led by the APRM Panel that led the review of Ghana in 2005.
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