Africa's eminent peer review panel, tasked with compiling review
reports on African governments' adherence to sound governance, is
due to begin its fact-finding mission to Ghana and Kenya, next
month. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) missions will,
during the visit, collect information on the host countries'
socio-economic and political policies that will form the basis of a
wide-ranging report to be handed to African leaders for review.
Speaking at his Pretoria home yesterday, member of Africa's eminent
persons panel, heading the APRM processes, Chris Stals, said he
would be heading a six-member mission to Ghana in April, while one
of his colleagues would go to Kenya. Assessment in Mauritius and
Rwanda would then follow soon afterwards.
The reviewing would take about six to eight months to complete and be ready by the end of the year.
The former South African Reserve Bank Governor said he had already collected and received information on the West African country as well as established direct contact with Ghanaian authorities, including President John Kufour and his diplomatic envoy to South Africa, to facilitate the visit.
He however appealed to African countries to establish "focal points" of entry that would enable his panel and teams to communicate directly with governments, adding that such a person or ministry ought to be development oriented.
He expressed reservation at some who suggested that a country president should become a focal point, saying that even South Africa needed to consider the location of their focal point at the Foreign Affairs Department. "We are not sure that it is the best place for it to be but it is for government to decide. I would think, finance or trade and industry departments, should be more appropriate than foreign affairs," said Dr Stals.
Ghana and Kenya have reportedly established and identified their economic development ministries as focal points dealing specifically with Nepad related issues.
He however reiterated that the APRM would remain "independent" free of political influence from African leaders, adding that their reports would "obviously" not be popular with everybody.
"Our loyalty, devotion, is not to an individual country or region. We are seven people from the African continent that must do an objective, independent assessment of policies that countries follow in the implementation of Nepad ideals". The APRM work and report must remain independent, objective and outside political pressure.
"We want to be independent but our independence ends at a certain point and then the politicians take over.
"Our independence ends when we have finalised our reports and then we sit back and say we have nothing to do with it anymore, we have given it the right body...we don't get involved in the political debates and arguments".
He added that the APRM would not do what international development agencies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were doing.
"Obvious that is not the objective... It is more of a philosophy policy approach and intentions and so on within the framework of Nepad objectives," adding that the review would be self-assessed, with minimum input and advise from other sources and experts. In this regard, the APRM has issued an 80-page self-assessment questionnaire to member countries on their effectiveness, or lack of it, in dealing with, among others, the democratisation of institutions, fighting poverty, corruption and underdevelopment.
The document however is not rigid and each country would then be judged according to its own capacity to deliver since almost all were "at different stages of development".
Dr Stals urged his fellow panellists and leaders to take serious the reviewing process, saying such a review would give Africa credibility.
"You don't get a second chance to make a first impression," he said. However, each member is required to deposit a contribution of $100 000 to the panel's coffers, while some funding would come from the international donor community, including the G8.
About 18 countries, have so far voluntarily agreed to be reviewed with Angola and Mali being the latest to join in.
Dr Stals also confirmed the appointment of former Guinea Reserve Bank governor Kerfalla Yansane as chief executive officer of the Midrand-based APR secretariat, which would serve as the administrative arm of the reviewing teams. – BuaNews.
The reviewing would take about six to eight months to complete and be ready by the end of the year.
The former South African Reserve Bank Governor said he had already collected and received information on the West African country as well as established direct contact with Ghanaian authorities, including President John Kufour and his diplomatic envoy to South Africa, to facilitate the visit.
He however appealed to African countries to establish "focal points" of entry that would enable his panel and teams to communicate directly with governments, adding that such a person or ministry ought to be development oriented.
He expressed reservation at some who suggested that a country president should become a focal point, saying that even South Africa needed to consider the location of their focal point at the Foreign Affairs Department. "We are not sure that it is the best place for it to be but it is for government to decide. I would think, finance or trade and industry departments, should be more appropriate than foreign affairs," said Dr Stals.
Ghana and Kenya have reportedly established and identified their economic development ministries as focal points dealing specifically with Nepad related issues.
He however reiterated that the APRM would remain "independent" free of political influence from African leaders, adding that their reports would "obviously" not be popular with everybody.
"Our loyalty, devotion, is not to an individual country or region. We are seven people from the African continent that must do an objective, independent assessment of policies that countries follow in the implementation of Nepad ideals". The APRM work and report must remain independent, objective and outside political pressure.
"We want to be independent but our independence ends at a certain point and then the politicians take over.
"Our independence ends when we have finalised our reports and then we sit back and say we have nothing to do with it anymore, we have given it the right body...we don't get involved in the political debates and arguments".
He added that the APRM would not do what international development agencies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were doing.
"Obvious that is not the objective... It is more of a philosophy policy approach and intentions and so on within the framework of Nepad objectives," adding that the review would be self-assessed, with minimum input and advise from other sources and experts. In this regard, the APRM has issued an 80-page self-assessment questionnaire to member countries on their effectiveness, or lack of it, in dealing with, among others, the democratisation of institutions, fighting poverty, corruption and underdevelopment.
The document however is not rigid and each country would then be judged according to its own capacity to deliver since almost all were "at different stages of development".
Dr Stals urged his fellow panellists and leaders to take serious the reviewing process, saying such a review would give Africa credibility.
"You don't get a second chance to make a first impression," he said. However, each member is required to deposit a contribution of $100 000 to the panel's coffers, while some funding would come from the international donor community, including the G8.
About 18 countries, have so far voluntarily agreed to be reviewed with Angola and Mali being the latest to join in.
Dr Stals also confirmed the appointment of former Guinea Reserve Bank governor Kerfalla Yansane as chief executive officer of the Midrand-based APR secretariat, which would serve as the administrative arm of the reviewing teams. – BuaNews.
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