Recommendations of Programme of Action will be implemented-President

Kufuor

Accra, June 8, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday said the Programme of Action (POA) on the recommendations by the National Africa Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council (NAPRM GC) would not be shelved but implemented to improve the living standards of Ghanaians. He said the final review process of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) should be seen as a consensus to the implementation of the POA, adding: "Ghana has fortified herself to meet the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Meeting scheduled for Abuja, Nigeria on June 19."

President Kufuor made the observation when Mrs Marie-Angeligue Savane, Chairperson of the African Peer Review Panel of Eminent Persons led a delegation to call on him at the Castle, Osu. The delegation is in the country to present their recommendations on the Ghana Self Assessment Report and the Programme of Action (POA) to the government as well as stakeholders, including civil society before its presentation to the AU meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on June 19.

President Kufuor said distinguished people who could not be easily manipulated constituted the National Governing Council of the APRM therefore, the critique they submitted should be the best for Ghana. He said: " because the review was conducted by a competent body, we could trust your panel to come out with an objective assessment. We have nothing to hide."

Mrs Savane expressed appreciation about the leadership qualities of President Kufuor for the initiative to become the first African leader to submit his country to the APRM. She said: "it took much courage. You have been a good model to undertake the exercise within a year with broad participation by over 50,000 people." Mrs Savane commended the Government for allowing an independent body to undertake the review without manipulation and their assessment would be a major breakthrough. "With the presentation of the report to the AU meeting other African leaders would open up for the APRM", she added.

The APRM review process is a self-monitoring mechanism intended to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that would lead to political stability, high economic growth rate and sustainable development. Ghana and Rwanda are the only two countries out of the 23 that have signed onto the APRM Mechanism.

The recommendations in the Plan of Action and Self Assessment Programme would be incorporated in the national budget and programmed for action and would welcome any support from the donor community towards the 150 policies and projects in the Plan of Action.