APRM hosts validation workshop

A three-day workshop for stakeholders, civil society, government officials, as well as members and staff of the National Governing Council and Secretariat of the African Peer Review Mechanism or APRM has begun in the country.

The three-day strategic planning and validation workshop – conducted under the auspices of the National Governing Council or NGC and African Peer Review Mechanism or APRM at the office of the National Authorized Building in Liberia on Capitol Hill in Monrovia, ran up to August 15, and will climax on the 31 of August 2015.

The NGC is made of nine- member selected group of stakeholders and subsequently appointed by the president from among diverse groups and stakeholders, including civil society, while the APRM is voluntary and has an open membership to all states of the African Union or AU beginning with an expression of interest.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the newly elected Chairman of the National Governing Council of APRM Liberia Secretariat, Mr. Dee Maxwell Kemayah, indicated that the three-day planning and validation workshop was intended for participants to advance ideas and strategies about the APRM Liberia sector.

He said the establishment of the APRM in Liberia was to create the opportunity, and strengthening of the plans and programs of the government, saying it was time that the APRM secretariat in Liberia take the stand in supporting plans and policies of government. “Our responsibilities, focus, desire is to carry this country beyond in terms of development,” he said.

Mr. Kemayah – also President of the Liberia Business Association, noted that the vision of the APRM secretariat is to see Liberia become a accountable member state of the APRM within the African Union, because it cannot afford to lessen the impacts it have made within the AU,” he added, saying “the roles our Leaders play that brought credibility and added values to the process in our country cannot be overlooked.“

The African Peer Review Mechanism or APRM is a frame-work of the African Union initiated and established in 2003, as part of the implementation of the new partnership for Africa development in Liberia.

The primary objectives of the APRM is to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that will lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration through experience-sharing and reinforcement of successful and best practices, including identifying deficiencies and assessment of requirements for capacity building purposes.

The mission of the APRM and National Governing Council or NGC is to work with all stakeholders, including government, state, local and traditional authorities, development and donors partners, civil society and APRM members countries and structures to ensure the realization, while the vision is for Liberia to becomes a responsible and accountable members of the APRM where political stability, economic growth in the country.