By Iddi Yire
Accra, Feb. 10, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has expressed Ghana’s readiness to open up to a thorough peer review under the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), as he swears-in a National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council (NAPRM-GC) members.
He described the mechanism as an important exercise that gives Ghana the opportunity to assess progress made in interventions aimed at improving governance.
He stated that the newly constituted Council is expected to lead Ghana’s second-generation review during the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this week.
“We are willing to do that and we will be available to lead that process,” he assured.
President Mahama recalled that Ghana was among the first countries to accede to, volunteer for, and undergo a comprehensive peer review as far back as 2006.
“It has been a matter of pride for us that Ghana’s democracy, accountable governance, and everything we are noted for will be subjected to review by our peers,” he said.
He noted that the first review highlighted the wide development gap between the deprived northern belt and the south, which subsequently contributed to the establishment of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).
The Authority, he explained, was intended to support direct development interventions that would reduce north–south migration.
“So, we want to know what has happened to those inequalities and what level of opportunities we have opened up in other parts of the country,” the President added.
The new Governing Council is chaired by Professor Akua Kuenyehia
In a brief remark, Prof Kuenyehia expressed gratitude to the President and pledged the Council’s commitment to upholding transparency and the independence of governance institutions.
Other members of the Council include Dr Joseph Whittal, Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ); Mr Joseph Obeng; Mr David Ofosu-Dorte; and Mrs Cornelia Amoah.
The APRM, established in 2003 by the African Union, is a voluntary self-monitoring mechanism designed to promote good governance, political stability, and sustainable development.
It facilitates national dialogue and self-assessment across four thematic areas: democracy and political governance, economic governance, corporate governance, and socio-economic development.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah