(LINA) – Individuals from various sectors of the Liberian society have been appointed as members of the National Governing Council (NGC) of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Country Program.
The mandate of the APRM is to encourage conformity in regard to political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards, among African countries and the objective in socio-economic development within the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed the NGC members and informed them that the objectives of the APRM are primarily to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration.
This can be achieved through experience sharing and reinforcement of successful and best practices, including identifying deficiencies and assessment of requirements for capacity building.
According to an Executive Mansion release, those appointed to the NGC will serve for a two-year term.
The process to implement the Country Program began with the recent recruitment of a National Secretariat to support the activities of the NGC, which is the Mechanism’s highest domestic decision-making body.
Those appointed are from Government, Mr. Emmanuel B. David, General Auditing Commission; Civil Society, Mr. Malcolm W. Joseph, Center for Media Studies and Peace Building; Women’s Organization, Ma Kebeh Monger, Rural Women Association and Private Sector, Mr. Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, Liberia Business Association.
Others are Marginalized & Disabled, Rev. Fallah Boima-Cymbianoh, National Union of Organizations of the Disabled; Traditional Council, Mr. Janjay A. Jacobs, Traditional Council and Academia, Dr. Kadiker Rex Dahn, National Commission on Higher Education.
Appointees from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Political Parties, Youth and Religious Council will be announced later following further consultations which are still ongoing.
Liberia formally acceded to the APRM in January 2011, and in May 2013, President Sirleaf was elected Chairperson of the African Peer Review Forum.
Upon taking office, the Liberian leader appointed the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Amara Konneh as National APRM Focal Point, and in 2013, he assumed the Chairmanship of the Committee of APRM Focal Points, which oversees the APRM administration, and the oversight responsibility for the implementation of Liberia’s Country Program.
Launched in 2003 by the African Union (AU), the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a mutually agreed instrument voluntarily acceded to by the Member States of the AU as an African self-monitoring mechanism. The APRM is a bold, unique and innovative approach designed and implemented by Africans for Africa.
LINA GDJ/PTK