APR is to accelerate economic integration - Adjapong

Accra, Feb. 1, GNA - Professor S. K. Adjapong, Chairman of the National Africa Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council (NAPRM GC), on Tuesday said Africa's economic integration would be accelerated through the sharing of experiences and the reinforcement of successful best practices.

He said APRM had offered member states the enabling platform by identifying deficiencies in governance and assessing the needs for capacity building.

Prof. Adjapong said this during the launch of a National Action Week for the sensitisation of the public on the objectives of the APRM in Accra. Mrs Emma Mitchell, Member of the Council of State, launched the week.

The week on the theme: "Towards Africa's Growth and Prosperity Through Good Governance," aims at creating national ownership, facilitating stakeholders dialogue, establishing trust in the pursuit of national development goals and ensuring that every Ghanaian is enlightened on the principles of the APRM.

He said Ghana was at the final stage of the review process, which included information gathering through national processes on the political, economic, corporate governance and development environment of the country.

The review process also includes wide consultations with Government Officials; Political Parties; Parliamentarians; Representatives of Civil Society Organization, including the Media; Academia; Trades Unions, business and professional bodies.

Prof. Adjapong, who is Principal of the Methodist University, said the APR report was measured against the applicable political, economic and development commitments made in the country's Programme of Action. He said the final phase of the process involved submission of a report to the APR Forum through the Secretariat and public release through key regional and continental structures such as the Pan-African Commission on Human and People's Rights, the Peace and Security Council and the envisaged Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union.

Mr Laary Bimi, Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), chaired the function.

Activities for the week of activism include, regional radio talk shows; television panel discussion on the APRM and Forum for identifiable groups such as the youth, students, religious groups and civil society organizations.

The Week is being organized by the NCCE in collaboration with the National Africa Peer Review Mechanism Governance Council.