President Mahama swears-in NAPRM Board
President John Dramani Mahama has called on the members of a new National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council (NAPRM-GC) to assist the government in monitoring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said the creation of the Council was an opportunity for Ghana to advance in her democratic credentials.
President Mahama made this call when he swore into office the new Board members of the NAPRM-GC at the Flagstaff House, Kanda.
The UN General Assembly has endorsed 17 SDGs for implementation by member nations and President Mahama is counting on the expertise of the members of the Council to implement at least 13 of them.
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an instrument agreed by the African Union under the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) to strengthen good governance in Africa.
The seven-member national Board is chaired by the Director of Research of the Association of African Universities, Professor Akilakpa Sawyer.
The other members are Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Executive Director, Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy; Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, Chairman, National Development Planning Commission; Most Reverend 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.
Their mandate is to ensure that policies and practices of the country conform to the agreed values of democracy and political governance, economic governance, corporate governance, and socio-economic development.
Ghana is one of the countries that acceded to the APRM and successfully went through the first review in 2006, and is currently one of the candidates for a second review.
President Mahama said since economic development was dependent on good political environment, the APRM would provide a vehicle in 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 APRM had made to Ghana’s development is opening up the political space for citizens’ participation, good governance and the passage of a number of legislations including the national gender policy and 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.
Prof Sawyerr on behalf of the Board gave the assurance to President Mahama and Ghanaians that the team would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them.
Source: GNA