- Cameroon is finally opening its doors to be screened by its African Union peers under the continent's initiative to bring poverty top of its development agenda.
African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) delegation is currently in Cameroon to reach an agreement with government on the creation of the National Governing Council and the designation to a ministry.
About a year ago, the country was one of the few that were yet to submit themselves for the review including Benin, Burkina Faso, Lesotho, Mauritius, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Angola, Congo and Egypt. Ghana was the first member to go through the process.
Addressing a working session headed by Cameroonian Prime Minister, Ephraim Inoni yesterday, chairperson of APRM delegation Mrs. Craca Machel said "we expect a common agreement on the structures that are going to be leading the APRM".
Mrs Machel explained that a National Governing Council, composed of the main stakeholders in society, where government has a seat, adding however that it was not government alone leading the process.
Before her working visit ends, there has to be an agreement with Cameroonian authorities as to the institutions to make up the National Governing Council. The Council as soon as it is established, will have to undertake a broad and good dissemination on the APRM, its aims, how to participate in its activities and open doors for people to participate.
In his opening speech Mr Inoni noted that the APRM was adopted by African countries to monitor progress made within the framework of New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and to encourage member States to review themselves on those aspects of NEPAD that deal with economic and institutional policy, democracy and governance of public and private organisations and corporate associations.
The Prime Minister further said, "the ultimate objective is to help the country under review to not only better formulate and implement policies, but also to adopt best practices and comply with established standards, principles and codes and other commitments taken".
According to Mr Inoni, Cameroon voluntarily became a member of the APRM on 3 April 2003. Despite this early membership, the current review visit of the organisation's delegation is the first.
After the working session, Mrs Machel had also told the press that Cameroon is ready and committed to the ideals of APRM. She told Prime Minister Inoni that, "there is no doubt that the ongoing evaluation of Cameroon by the APRM will go a long way to increase the credibility of our country at the international level".
The NEPAD strategic framework document arises from a mandate given to the five initiating Heads of State (Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa) by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to develop an integrated socio-economic development framework for Africa. The 37th Summit of the OAU in July 2001 formally adopted the strategic framework document.
The body's primary objectives are to; eradicate poverty, place African countries, both individually and collectively on a path of sustainable growth and development, halt the marginalisation of Africa in the globalisation process and enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy and accelerate the empowerment of women.
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