At APR 26th Summit: Liberia Assures Readiness for Peer-Review - Come June

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Hon. Boima S. Kamara, has assured the 26th Summit of Heads of State and Governments participating in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APR Forum) that Liberia is on an irreversible path of readiness to be peer-reviewed by the end-June, 2017.

According to a dispatch from Addis Ababa, Minister Kamara gave the assurance when he addressed the 26th APR Forum on January 28, 2017 on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Finance Minister Kamara disclosed that the processes leading to the finalization of Liberia’s Country Review Report were well advanced and on course, and craved the support of the APR Forum, Continental Secretariat, and Panel in charge of Liberia - in ensuring that Liberia is peer-reviewed by June.

Speaking earlier, the Chairperson of the APR Forum, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya, welcomed Heads of State and their representatives to the gathering, citing the construction of mega infrastructure projects as major achievements of the initiative. He said Africa was making significant progress in improving the livelihoods of its people while expanding the opportunities for future generations.

The 26th APR Forum, which convened on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, undertook the review of five countries, including Djibouti, Chad, Senegal, Kenya, and Sudan. The Summit also saw the accession of Namibia to its membership, while a progress report on Zambia’s ongoing peer review was discussed.

The dispatch further noted that Minister Kamara and the Chairman of the National Governing Council of the APRM, Mr. Michael David, earlier held a fruitful meeting with the Lead Panel Member for Liberia, Hon. Brigitte Mabandla, where they reviewed Liberia’s roadmap and made key adjustments to critical timelines and targets for the country’s review. Minister Kamara used the opportunity to assure Hon. Mabandla of Liberia’s unwavering commitment to remain actively engaged with her team, promising to resume the ongoing sensitization exercise and actively implement outstanding activities upon his return to Liberia. In response, Hon. Mabandla then pledged the Panel’s full support in achieving the desired objectives leading to Liberia’s review, describing Liberia as a special case.
In his capacity as Liberia’s Focal Point to the APR Forum, Minister Kamara also attended a meeting of Focal Points on January 26, 2017, also in Addis Ababa. That meeting reviewed reports of countries currently undergoing review, as well as other documents and reports for the smooth operation of the Continental Secretariat with the relevant recommendations to the Summit.

The meeting of Focal Points was preceded by a meeting of the Chairpersons of various Governing Councils of APRM-participating countries, which was attended by the Chairman of Liberia’s Governing Council, Mr. Emmanuel B. David. The meeting highlighted the need for Governing Councils of participating countries to collaborate with one another and participate actively in the implementation of recommendations from the review process.

The APRM was established in 2003 as an African Union initiative for promoting good governance within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), with the objectives of fostering the adoption of policies, standards and practices leading to political stability, high economic growth, among others. Liberia acceded to the APRM in January 2011. Minister Kamara returned to Liberia on January 31, 2017 to resume the county sensitization and other crucial activities related to the Country Review process.