INTRODUCTION review from the start of Stage One to the end of Stage Four is between six and nine months. 13. This country report marks the third phase of the APR process in Ghana. It presents the findings of the CRM to Ghana, as well as Panel recommendations. The report is structured in six chapters. Apart from this introductory section, the subsequent four chapters evaluate developments and outstanding challenges in the four APRM focus areas (Democracy and Political Governance; Economic Governance and Management; Corporate Governance; and Socio-Economic Development). Chapter 6 contains a discussion of the overarching issues flagged as critical due to their impact on governance and requiring immediate and urgent attention. The report contains in appendix, the comments received from Ghana on the report. An essential component of the report is the country's POA, which is also appended. 1.2 Ghana and the APRM 14. Ghana could rightly be described as a country of firsts. In 1957, it was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to emerge from the yoke of colonial rule. Before an economic crisis of unprecedented proportion struck in the late 1970s, Ghana was among the highest per capita gross national product (GNP) on the continent. It has also been prominent in several of the mishaps of political instability. Ghana experienced the trauma of bad governance and bouts of military takeovers long before other African countries suffered similar fates. The country has, however, rebounded after launching one of the first and more stringent economic recovery programmes in the region nearly two decades ago, as well as a successful democratisation process. Again, Ghana has taken the lead in the APRM process and is gradually becoming a shining example to other African countries. 15. Besides being one of the first countries to accede, Ghana is very passionate about the APRM. President Kufuor has personally spoken about his convictions of using the APRM as a tool for instilling good governance and eradicating poverty in Ghana. Ghana, together with nine other countries, signed the MOU for the APRM Review on 9 March 2003 at the Sixth Summit of the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee of NEPAD held in Abuja, Nigeria. The country created a Ministry of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD in March 2003.The NAPRM-GC is the designated focal point for the APRM. 5