INTRODUCTION
President noted that Ghana is ready to address the issue of improved governance
comprehensively, to take corrective measures where necessary, and to cooperate
effectively and efficiently to achieve sustainable development.
32. The penultimate event of the mission was a wrap-up meeting held between the CRM
and the NAPRM-GC on 15 April 2005.
33. In the main, the CRM was a success. Ghana is committed to improved governance
and the populace is resolute in achieving a better quality of life. They look to the
APR process as an important contributory factor in achieving their national
objectives. Ghana, being the first country to be reviewed, has indeed led by example
in the process.
34. The CRM is satisfied as to the autonomy and independence given to the NAPRMGC in executing its mandate. The Council has also made commendable efforts to
sensitise and disseminate information on the APRM to create ownership and ensure
broad-based participation.
35. The TRIs chosen to undertake the exercise are credible and competent research
institutions, renowned in the country or sub-region, on the continent and some
internationally. The TRIs have domesticated the questionnaire to the Ghanaian
context to capture country-specific issues. In addition, the TRIs have undertaken
broad consultations and in-depth surveys to reflect the views of ordinary
Ghanaians. Detailed results of the findings are presented in a clear and objective
way. The Panel therefore notes with great appreciation the high quality of the
reports, the methodologies followed, the efforts to solicit broad participation, the
analyses presented and the recommendations made that have greatly facilitated the
task of the CRM. The reports have also enabled the Council to produce a final
CSAR that meets the AU's unqualified requirements of professionalism and
credibility. If published, these reports could make an important contribution to a
better understanding in Ghana, and in other African countries, of the objectives and
procedures of the APRM process.
36. In the same context, there is pressure within Ghana for an early release of the final
Country Report, as presented to the Forum. In terms of the existing directives, the
report must be released “six months after [it] has been considered by the Heads of
State and the government of the participating member countries” (see paragraph 25
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