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From 24 – 29 May 2004, Dr. Chris Stals, a member of the
African Peer Review Panel of Eminent Persons (APR Panel), led a
Support Mission of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
to Ghana. The team of eight that included the Lead Consultant
for the APRM, Dr. Kerfalla Yansane, was composed of the APR
Secretariat and representatives of the following Strategic
Partner Institutions, the African Development Bank (ADB), the
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
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The purpose of the support mission to Ghana was to assess the
processes and mechanisms put in place by the country to
undertake its self-assessment and prepare its preliminary
Programme of Action and subsequently, be reviewed by the APR
Panel. The Support Mission to Ghana was motivated by the fact
that Ghana is more advanced than most countries in creating
the requisite structural prior conditions including:
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Appointing an independent National APRM Governing Council (NAPRM-GC);
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Establishing a National APR Secretariat to provide support to
the Governing Council;
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Commissioning four independent, non-governmental
technical advisory bodies to assist with the assessment
process in the respective four thematic areas of democracy
and good political governance, macro-economic
management, corporate governance and socio-economic
development; and
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Embarking on a sensitisation campaign throughout the
country to educate and involve all national stakeholders in
the self-assessment process.
Courtesy Visit to H.E. President John A. Kufuor
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Dr. Chris Stals, Prof. S.K. Adjepong, the Chairman of Ghana’s
National Governing Council of the APRM, accompanied by two
other Governing Council members, Ms. Gloria Ofori Boadu and
Prof. S. K. B. Asante, as well as the Executive Secretary of the
National APR Secretariat, Dr. Francis Appiah, and the APR
Panel Support Officer, Mr. Mufor Atanga, paid a courtesy visit
to the Head of State, H.E. President John A. Kufuor. The
President, in the presence of his Minister for Regional
Cooperation and NEPAD, Dr. K. K. Apraku, emphasised the
importance of the APRM and stressed on the independence of
the Governing Council that has been set up by Ghana to
oversee the integrity of the national process. He indicated that
he had no doubt that the Governing Council will not be
subjected to political manipulation. The President stated that
Ghana will give its full cooperation to the APR Panel of Eminent
Persons. He declared that he had no doubt that the Panel’s
work will contribute towards fostering good governance on the
continent.
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Dr. Stals expressed his appreciation for the personal
commitment of H.E. President Kufuor to the APRM. This
commitment is seen in Ghana being one of the first countries to
create the Ministry for Regional Cooperation and NEPAD on the
continent, and putting in place an independent Governing
Council to facilitate the implementation of the APRM and
ensure the broad participation of key stakeholders in the
process. Dr. Stals informed the President that his team had
received exemplary cooperation from the Governing Council and
National APR Secretariat as well as from other stakeholders.
APR National Stakeholders’ Forum
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An APR National Stakeholders Forum was held on 27 May
2004. Vice President Aliu Mahama, who presided over the
Forum, assured Ghanaians that the APRM process in Ghana
will not be compromised by political factors. In his keynote
address, he echoed the words of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who
declared “the independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is
linked up with the total liberation of the continent.” Explaining
that the purpose of the APRM process was economic
independence and regional integration, which is another step
towards the total liberation of the continent.
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In his welcome remarks, the Chairperson of the National APRM
Governing Council underscored that the integrity and credibility
of the APRM process in Ghana is entrusted on the
independence and autonomy of the APR Governing Council. Dr.
Stals reiterated that after having interacted with the Governing
Council, he was convinced that the Governing Council will carry
forward the commitment, vision and enthusiasm of Ghana in pursuit of the APRM. He insisted that the APRM is first and
foremost a process initiated and conducted by the country
itself. The APR Panel of Eminent Persons (APR Panel) only
provides support and advice to the country.
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The Minister for Regional Cooperation and NEPAD, Dr. K.K.
Apraku, emphasised Ghana’s commitment to the APRM process
and assured Ghanaians that the Government would not
interfere in the APRM process.
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Dr. K.K. Apraku, Minister for Regional Cooperation and NEPAD,
on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Ghana and Dr.
Chris Stals, APR Panel Member, on behalf of the Chairperson of
the Committee of Participating Heads of State and Government
in the APRM (APR Forum), signed a Memorandum of
Understanding on the Technical Assessment Missions and the
Country Review Visit of the APRM.
Interactions between the Support Mission, the National APRM
Governing Council and National APR Technical Teams:
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A briefing session was organised to update the APR Support
Mission on the preparedness of Ghana for the African Peer
Review process. This provided the opportunity for the Support
Mission to interact with the lead Technical Institutions engaged
by the National APRM Governing Council to assist in the
country’s self-assessment in the four identified thematic areas.
The lead institutions are:
- Centre for Democratic Development, for Democracy and
Good Political Governance;
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Centre for Policy Economic Analysis, for Economic
Governance and Management;
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Private Enterprise Foundation, for Corporate Governance;
and
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Institute for Statistical, Social, and Economic Research, for
Socio-Economic Development.
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The lead institutions briefed the Support Mission on the
proposed methodologies for undertaking the country’s selfassessment.
The discussion centred on the importance of the
National APR process being all-inclusive and participatory in
nature. It was also emphasised that the questionnaire is to
serve as a guideline. Hence, it could be recast and countries
were encouraged to include country specific issues. The need
for regular communication between the APR Panel and the National Governing Council was emphasised. It was noted that
Ghana, to her credit, was well ahead of many other African
countries.
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The Support Mission reiterated that each participating country
should feel free to mobilise resources for the National APR
process to the extent that such support is coordinated and does
not compromise the principles of the APRM.
APR National Stakeholders’ Workshop
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The National APRM Governing Council organised a three-day
National Stakeholders’ Workshop from 27 – 29 May, 2004 to
further discuss the methodology and tools and processes of the
APRM. It brought together national stakeholders and the lead
national technical teams designated by the National APRM
Governing Council in the four thematic areas and the Support
Mission team.
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The participants of the National Stakeholders’ workshop were
organised into syndicate groups around the four thematic areas
to discuss the questionnaire and offer suggestions on the
proposed methodology including country specific issues.
Appreciation
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The Governing Council registered its appreciation to the
Support Mission for making time to interact and support the
National APR process. The Support Mission expressed its
thanks to the President, the Government, and the National
Governing Council for the warm hospitality and cooperation it
received throughout its stay in the country.
Dr. Chris Stals Prof. S. K. Adjepong
Member Chairman
APR Panel APR National Governing Council
Issued in Accra, Ghana, 29th day of May 2004.
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