President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the importance of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as a vital platform for national dialogue and self-assessment aimed at strengthening governance and promoting inclusive national development.
The President made the remarks after swearing in members of the National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council (NAPRM-GC) at the Presidency in Accra.
According to President Mahama, the APRM provides participating countries with a structured and transparent framework to evaluate their policies and governance practices across four key thematic areas.
“The African Peer Review Mechanism facilitates national dialogue and rigorous self-assessments of our policies and practices across four key areas: democracy and political governance; economic governance and management; corporate governance; and socio-economic development,” the President stated.
He explained that the process allows countries to take an honest and objective look at their progress, identify gaps, and design practical interventions to improve governance outcomes.
“It is through this process that we are able to take an honest look at ourselves, measure our progress, identify gaps, and agree on practical interventions to strengthen governance, deepen accountability, and advance inclusive national development,” he added.
President Mahama noted that Ghana’s voluntary participation in the APRM reflects the country’s long-standing commitment to democratic values, transparency, and responsible leadership.
He stressed that peer review should be viewed as a constructive exercise rather than a fault-finding mission.
He further highlighted the inclusive nature of the APRM, which brings together government, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders to engage in national dialogue on governance and development priorities.
“The strength of the APRM lies in its ability to build national consensus by involving all segments of society in assessing how we govern ourselves and how we can do better,” the President said.
President Mahama reaffirmed government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations that emerge from the review process, noting that meaningful reform depends on translating assessment outcomes into concrete policy action.
He expressed confidence that Ghana’s continued engagement with the APRM would strengthen national institutions, improve service delivery, and enhance the country’s standing as a leader in democratic governance on the African continent.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
