FOREWORD This is the Sixth Annual Progress Report submitted by the National African Peer Review Mechanism – Governing Council to the APR Panel as part of the reporting obligations of the APRM. The Report covers the period January – December 2011 and provides an overview of Ghana’s progress in the implementation of the National Programme of Action. In the period under review the Council implemented the District APRM Governance Assessment Project in forty districts as part of efforts to improve ownership and participation of civil society actors in local governance assessments. The report of the Governance Assessment Project is available at the Council’s website. The period under review witnessed an improved macro economic situation as a result of the government’s multi-year macro economic stabilization programme aided by positive terms of trade and favourable agricultural production. The Council applauds government for the implementation of the Single Salary Spine Policy which has improved the remuneration of public sector workers. Council has been monitoring the effects that the implementation of the policy is having on socio-economic development. Council acknowledges that the implementation of the policy is not only impacting efficient budget execution and macroeconomic stability, it is also affecting delivery of quality public expenditure in such vital services as education and health. As a people, Ghanaians have always enjoyed and protected our freedom to freely express ourselves on development and political issues. Council notes with concern that the use of intemperate language by members of political parties on the airwaves threatens the peace we have enjoyed as a people. Council is also worried that the selective use of section 208 of the 1960 Criminal Code would stifle the exercise of the freedom of expression. The agreement reached between the Electoral Commission and the political parties to use Biometric Voter (BV) cards in the 2012 general elections is a healthy development. It is the hope of the Council that the political parties would actively educate their members to ensure a smooth registration exercise in 2012. The adoption of a Code of Conduct by the political parties to guide their behavior and regulate their conduct is applauded. The Council urges all political parties to respect the committee established to enforce the tenets outlined in the Code of Conduct. The year under review also witnessed an agitated debate on the subject of homosexuality. Whilst Council frowns on persons who harass and maltreat homosexuals, Council joins Sixth Annual APRM Progress Report: January – December 2011 ix