CHAPTER 1 16. The APRM requires that a participating country should conduct an independent self-assessment of its governance record. In keeping with this spirit, Ghana instituted a local team of highly qualified and esteemed professionals and public personalities deemed independent of the government and with respect of the general populace. This National APRM Governing Council (NAPRM-GC) comprises the following persons: . ? Rev. Prof. S.K. Adjepong, a former University Vice-Chancellor and currently President of the Methodist University as Chairperson; ? Amb. Alex Ntim Abankwa, a Retired Diplomat and former ambassador who has worked with all governments of Ghana since independence; ? Prof. Samuel K. Botwe Asante, an International Consultant and former Principal Regional Adviser, UNECA; ? Most Rev. Dr Bishop Paul Bemile, the Catholic Bishop of Wa and Director of the Inter- region Dialogue; ? Prof. Miranda Greenstreet, a leading Educationist, former Director of Institute of Adult Education of the University of Ghana, and Chairman of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers in the Ghana 2001/2004 elections. ? Mr Nutifafa Kuenyehia, a former Chairperson of the Ghana Bar Association and Media Commission; ? Ms Gloria Ofori-Boadu, a former Executive Director of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Ghana and currently President of the Women's Assistance and Business Association (WABA). 17. To safeguard their independence, members of the Governing Council were not sworn in by the President but inaugurated. During their inauguration at State House on 18 March 2004, President Kufuor urged them to “prick the conscience of the nation” in their work. 18. The NAPRM-GC is supported by a Secretariat, headed by an Executive Secretary. The core running costs of the Secretariat are borne by the government, which has seconded a further six support staff to provide secretarial, technical, coordinating and administrative support services to the Council. 19. The NAPRM-GC appointed four national independent think-tanks and technical research institutes (TRIs) to undertake the country's selfassessment in each of the four thematic areas of the APRM, and to make appropriate recommendations to 6