Chairman of NAPRM-GC Calls For Mandate Expansion and Increased Resource Allocation

The Acting Chairman of the National African Peer Review Mechanism’s Governing Council (NAPRM-GC), Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, lead a delegation from the NAPRM-GC on Monday August 9, 2021 paid courtesy call on the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.

The objective of the visit was about discussion on expansion mandate of the APRM with its attendant need for increased resources, to review the situation of shortage in the Council’s membership vis-à-vis the country’s plan for a targeted review, to seek the Hon. Minister’s opinion on the way forward with regards to the themes for the targeted review, to request for the Ministry’s support in obtaining legal backing for the work of the APRM.

Among others, it also aimed at requesting for the Ministry’s assistance in acquiring a befitting office space and logistics to enhance the work of the Council.

Hon Minister during the meeting acknowledged the expanded mandate of the APRM at the 28th African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in January 2017, to include reporting on the implementation of the Agendas 2063 as well as Agenda 2030 and in January, 2018, to include acting as an early warning tool for conflict prevention in Africa within the context of harmony and synergy between the APRM, African Peace and Security Architecture and the African Governance Architecture.

She recognized that the new mandates conform to the original mandate of the APRM which is to ensure that policies and practices of AU Member States complies with the agreed values, codes and standards as contained in the African Union Declaration on Democracy, Economic, Political and Corporate Governance.

Madam Aryokor Botchwey admited the difficulty in the APRM’s Governing Council performing its mandates without any legal backing and on that score, affirmed that Government will take necessary action to gain the needed legal backing for the conduct of the Council’s business.

She applauded the efficiency and effectiveness displayed by the Governing Council in carrying out its mandates irrespective of the shortage in membership as well as logistics and indicated that Government has already taken steps to increase the Council’s membership to seven (7), as required by H.E. the President and provide the needed accoutrements to enhance the performance of the Council’s work.

She emphasized that Government is determined not to overstretch the current three (3) Council members in view of the Country’s targeted review and express hope that the Council will have its full complement before the start of the review process.

The Hon Minister, recalled the appointment of Md. Gifty Afenyi Dadzie and Mr. Laud Mansfield Baddoo, in December, 2019, to serve on the Council and the fact that the two (2) are in-wait for an induction ceremony before assuming office and on that note, assure that Government recognizes the delay in induction and hence plans to hold a single swearing-in ceremony for all new members of the Council.

She indicated also that Government is aware of the exit of Dr. Lawrence Kannae from the Council, owing to his retirement from the Public Services Commission and the reappointment of Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, to serve as a member of the Council when he was already a member and even Acting as the Chair.

Mad Aryokor Botchwey indicated that she is aware of the selected targeted review themes which are Trade, Education, Natural Resource Governance, ‘Safeguarding the Environment’ as well as Public Health and that the Ministry plans to charge the relevant stakeholders to identify the specific areas under the selected themes that needs to be reviewed for the attention of H.E. the President.

Foreign Minister seized the opportunity to re-affirm Government’s determination to boost the capacity of the APRM in the performance of the needed analytical work that underpins targeted review processes;

She expressed her preparedness to work closely with the Governing Council in tracking and monitoring the implementation of the Agendas 2063 and 2030, as well as overseeing the Continent’s other key governance initiatives.