As part of deliberations at the ECOWAS Workshop on the APRM, a delegation made up of members of the National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council and the ECOWAS Commission paid a courtesy call on Ghana’s Vice President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama.
The NAPRM-GC was led by Chairman, Rev. Prof. S.K. Adjepong, and the ECOWAS Commission by Col. Mahamane Toure, Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security. Prof. Adjepong briefed Vice President John Mahama on the workshop and said it is the first meeting and will serve as a catalyst to foster regional integration and co-operation. He commended the Vice President for his significant role and interest in the APRM during his time as a Member of Parliament for his constituency. Bole Bamboi and as a member of the Pan African Parliament. Rev. Prof. Adjepong added that the Governing Council reminisces with pride his depth of knowledge on the APRM when he was in opposition.
On behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission and participating countries, Col. Toure (rtd) thanked Vice President John Mahama for the audience and added that it is a clear indication of the commitment of the government and people of Ghana to ECOWAS and the APRM. He informed the Vice President that member states are engaged in developing a framework to implement the APRM. Col. Toure said some results have been achieved in the process but there is a need for political will, qualitative civil society participation, domestication, and national ownership of the APRM Process.
Vice President John Mahama expressed the appreciation of President John Atta Mills for the courtesy call and added that as the first country to go through peer review, it is an indication that the people of Ghana have chosen to go by the rule of law and other democratic principles. He added that the government is always ready to support any process that will lead to the promotion and advancement of the APRM because, in spite of the achievements, there is a lot more to do.
Vice President John Mahama explained that Ghana has met many of the requirements in the APRM Progress Report but other issues will have to be done through a constitutional review process for which arrangements are being made. He urged countries that have not acceded to peer review to take a second look at this crucial national and continental agenda.
The Adviser on Democracy and Good Governance at the ECOWAS Commission, Prof. Ade Adefuye expressed admiration for Ghana’s co-operation and commitment to the APRM and the tremendous support of the NAPRM-GC to the conference which brought many stakeholders together to ensure successful deliberations.
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