Accra, May 10, GNA - Participants at the end of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) African Continental Conference in Accra have asked countries undergoing the APRM process to accelerate the implementation process and urged those yet to do so to accede to the process.

A Communiqu=E9 issued at the end of the three-day conference underlined the important role of peer learning in accelerating the implementation and encouraged as a means of overcoming the challenges of rolling out the national APRM process through the identification of critical success factors and best practices. The participants led by APRM National Governing Council members and APRM coordinators and implementers across the continent noted the constraints and the need to exploit synergies among development initiatives.

The conference underscored the importance of harmonising the National Programme of Action and existing national development strategies which would move the process further.

The communiqu=E9 affirmed participants desire to retain the unique identity of the APRM process in order to preserve its credibility as an African owned governance monitoring and evaluation tool that should primarily depend on internally mobilized resources. The conference emphasized the need to redouble efforts in finding Africa's own development agenda and in this regard reaffirm the essential role of mutual support and cooperation among African states. The conference congratulated Dr Francis Appiah of Ghana for winning the German African Award and his immense role in developing and promoting the APRM concept.

The Continental Conference is under the theme "Africa's Bold March to capture the 21st century - The role of the APRM and reiterated Africa's commitment to the APRM as an instrument to foster good governance and socio economic development. So far 26 African countries have acceded to the APRM, three countries, namely Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya have been peer reviewed while two countries, South Africa and Algeria will be reviewed in July 2007. Nigeria, which was originally listed is yet to finish its report. Eight countries have received country support mission.