125 Districts Oversight Committees for APRM born so far

Koforidua, Dec. 12, GNA - The National Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council (NAPRM-GC), on Friday inaugurated five more District Oversight Committees at a ceremony in Koforidua.

The inauguration which were for the Fanteakwa, East Akyem, Akuapem South, Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar and Atiwa District Oversight Committees, has brought the total number of Committees nationwide to 125. They are required to mobilize the people to own, manage and disseminate the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and to actively participate in the monitoring and evaluation of Ghana's National Programme of Action towards the promotion of good governance at the district level.

Reverend Professor S.K. Adjepong, Chairman of the NAPRM added that the Oversight Committees were to provide the platform in accessing, sharing and disseminating information, ideas, and experiences of the APRM process at the local levels.

Professor Adjepong said the APRM came about to reverse the dwindling fortunes of African countries and despite the fact that the continent was endowed with more natural resources, it lacked behind in development.

He said factors such as coups, wars, conflicts leadership failure, dictatorship, abuse of human rights, corruption and maladministration among others were responsible for African woes.

Professor Adjepong said Ghana was the first African countries to be peer reviewed and added that it was done in a non partisan manner. Dr Francis Appiah, Executive Secretary, NAPRM-GC, mentioned some achievements of the APRM in the country as setting up of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, upper limit of number of Supreme Court Judges, rationalization of administration of land and passage of the Whistleblower Act.

Others were Freedom of Information Bill before Cabinet, separation of Attorney General and Minister of Justice before Cabinet, reduction in Corporate Tax from 27.5 percent to 25 percent and the establishment of Northern Development Fund.

Osabarima Kwame Tia, who chaired the function, advised the committee members not to use it to witch-hunt but rather to promote development in their areas.