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09.05.2007 General News

Peer review has failed – Dr Aning

09.05.2007 LISTEN
By myjoyonline

The Head of Research at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre in Accra, Dr Kwesi Aning has said the African Peer Review Mechanism process has failed.

He said most African leaders lack the confidence to call their peers to order when they go wrong.

Speaking in an interview with Joy News, Dr Aning said on a scale of 1 to 10 he would mark the APRM process three.

He said: “The APRM Process, with the exception of the Ghana case has not enjoyed public involvement in the evaluation of countries.”

Dr Aning said one other reason that has affected the APRM is that it is almost impossible for smaller States to question the actions of bigger ones.

“Unfortunately, the APRM has become a political process. And political processes are issues of power and influence. And therefore the capacity of smaller and more functional states calling their fellow heads of state to book is almost impossible. Precisely because it has serious economic repercussions,” he said.

However, the Government Spokesperson on Good Governance, Mr Frank Agyekum disagreed with Dr Aning's argument. For him Ghana is a test case that the APRM is doing well.

“A lot has been achieved. The evidence is there for us all to see. Since the APRM has been in place some of the recommendations such as establishing the ministry of chieftaincy affairs has been done, passage of the domestic violence and the disability laws have been passed and the whistle blowers act and a whole lot,” he mentioned.

He said government is taking the issues of APRM seriously and working hard around the clock to meet most of the recommendations.

Also, the Executive Secretary of the APRM Governing Council, Dr. Francis Appiah, concurred with Mr Agyekum saying that Ghana has chalked remarkable successes as compared to others.

At the moment 26 out of 53 African countries have signed up to the APRM, which began five years ago.

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