Appiah Wins German-Africa Award For 2007
The Executive Secretary of the National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council (NAPRM-GC), Dr Francis Appiah, has been named as the winner of the prestigious German Africa Award for 2007.
The award, which was instituted by the German Africa Foundation in 1993, is given every year to an outstanding African who is adjudged to have promoted peace, democracy, human rights and social market economies in Africa.
Dr Appiah's enormous efforts at ensuring the success of the APRM process in Ghana and other African countries won the hearts of the organisers and makes him the 15th recipient of the highest German award to an African.
The German Chancellor and President of the G-8, Dr Angela Merkel, will present the award to Dr Appiah at a grand ceremony in Berlin on October 10, 2007 for him to join the likes of Dr Alpha Omar Konare of Mali, Sir Ketumile Masire of Botswana, Prof. Dr Peter A.'Nyong'o of Kenya and Mr Maitre Yawovi Agboyibo of Togo who are proud recipients of the award in the past.
“It's a pleasant surprise. I'm happy that it coincided with Ghana's Golden Jubilee,” an elated Dr Appiah told the Daily Graphic on shortly before his departure to Germany to receive the prestigious award.
“It's an encouragement, an impetus and a shot in the arm for me. I feel urged on to continue doing what I'm doing,” he added.
Dr Appiah said the award was also a recognition of the fact that Ghana was gaining ground in good governance in Africa and the world at large.
He expressed gratitude to members of the NAPRM-GC for their support and co-operation which had brought such an honour to him and the nation.
Dr Appiah has been very instrumental, as the chief administrator of the NAPRM-GC Secretariat, in executing the country's commitments under the APRM process and also sharing experiences with other African countries that have signed up to the peer review process.
“We also would like to dedicate the award to the people of Ghana, which was the first to successfully complete the APRM procedure. We do hope that the German Africa Award 2007 encourages more African countries to follow the leadership of Ghana, Kenya and other countries and to join and implement the APRM which is a unique important initiative for reforms and growth in Africa,” the President of the German Africa Foundation, Prof Karl-Heinz Homhues, said in a statement.
Dr Appiah is a graduate of the University of Ghana and the University of Bergen, Norway, where he obtained his Ph.D in Administration and Organisation Science. He taught at his two alma maters for a period of time.
In 2002, Dr Appiah was engaged by the UNDP to set up and head the secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Later, when Ghana acceded to the APRM, he was appointed the Executive Secretary of the NAPRM-GC.
Story by Kofi Yeboah