MONROVIA, January 23 (LINA) – Finance Minister Amara Konneh has said despite challenges at home, Liberia “continues to shine” in meeting its regional, continental and global obligations to promote democracy, rule of law, economic and social justice and good governance.

“…we have regained our status as a responsible member of the comity of nations,” Konneh noted, crediting the administration of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for rekindling ties with key bodies and making efforts to improve national governance.
 
The Finance Minister made the statement Thursday at the opening of a two-day multi-stakeholder forum to constitute a National Governing Council to oversee the local activities of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
 
The APRM was established in 2003 as an African Union initiative for promoting good governance within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
 
Liberia in 2011 acceded to the APRM and in 2013 President Sirleaf, with near unanimous approval, assumed the Chairmanship of the APR Forum of Heads of State and Government.
 
Konneh became Chair of the APRM Inter-ministerial Committee of Focal Points and the Liberia Focal Point.
 
He explained that Liberia’s ascension to the APRM was part of its broader foreign policy seeking to effectively position the country in strategic global bodies to reestablish leadership roles in these institutions.
 
The Finance minister said accomplishments at the continental level will prove critical at the national level as Liberia begins the country process by constituting the National Governing Council, which will set the direction for the local APRM program.
LINA