AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM
GHANA COUNTRY
CONSOLIDATED
REPORT
FEBRUARY 2005
Prepared By: NAPRM GC With Technical Assistance from: Center for Democratic Development (CDD) Center for Policy Analysis (CEPA) Private Enterprises Foundation (PEF) Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER)
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PREFACE
We were inaugurated on March 18, 2004 by H.E. the President to oversee the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in Ghana. This report presents the findings of the National Self-Assessment that was conducted in the country in response to the APRM questionnaire that was sent by the African Union.
The implementation of the APRM in Ghana has been a long march in respect of the political commitment of the Government of Ghana to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The government affirmed its commitment to NEPAD when Ghana became the first African country to volunteer and publicly declare its intention to accede to the APRM. The country was among the first six countries to officially declare its intention to accede to the APRM when the subject was first raised at the 5th HSGIC meeting on November 3, 2002 in Abuja, Nigeria. Again, when it came to signing the Memorandum of Understanding to officially accede to the APRM, Ghana demonstrated faith by being among the first twelve countries to accede in March 2003.
Further to the commitment of the Government, the Ministry of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD, the first of its kind in Africa was created in May 2003 to among others to spearhead the implementation of NEPAD and prepare the country to actualize the APRM.
H.E. the President following a wide range of consultations with relevant stakeholders, including all the chairmen and ranking members of Select Committees in Parliament, the media and a number of civil society organizations came up with a considered criteria as the basis to appoint members of the NAPRM Governing Council. Emphasis was placed on the autonomy and non-interference in the work of this structure to ensure its integrity, impartiality, transparency, objectivity, professionalism and above all a non-partisan and national character.
The Governing Council has the primary function of overseeing and providing leadership for the implementation of the APRM. To ensure that the leadership and ownership of the APRM process is driven by stakeholders with autonomy all the Governing Council members are not state officials and thus by definition are civil society actors.
The Governing Council is assisted by a lean Secretariat that provides administrative, technical and coordinating support to the work of the Council. To operationalize the APRM questionnaire as a technical, scientific, objective and professional assessment four National Technical Review Teams were appointed by the Governing Council to be the lead institutions in the technical assessment. These are civil society organizations with proven capacity, competencies and know-how and with recognized reputation as independent think-tanks.
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The four independent National Technical Review Teams are:
i. Center for Democratic Development (CDD) – Democracy and Good Political Governance ii. Center for Policy Analysis (CEPA) – Economic Governance and Management iii. Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF) - Corporate Governance iv. Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) – Socio-Economic Development
A civil society liaison desk was also established in the APRM Secretariat to anchor the review process on a participatory norm that ensured that stakeholders from all parts of the country and from all walks of life were actively engaged in the process to engender public ownership of the process.
The methodology underpinning the implementation of the APRM in Ghana was designed as a bottom-up process to foster the participation of Ghanaians in an open, all-inclusive and transparent manner. The first entailed a pre-field methodology made up of five strands: a) the education, sensitization, awareness creation and creation of ownership drive among the mass of Ghanaians; b) realigning, harmonizing and coordinating methodological approaches among the technical review teams; c) identification of stakeholders; d) recasting the questionnaire into a survey instrument and e) gathering information and data on Ghana for the APR Panel.
Second was a field methodology that employed a three-prong approach: a) an elite survey involving interviews with persons who by virtue of their specialized background occupy senior positions in public and private organizations and institutions; b) a mass household survey to capture broad and representative views in all the ten administrative regions of Ghana and c) focus group discussions with identifiable organized groups on specific issues raised in the questionnaire were done.
Third was the use of an in-house methodology that involved first, desk research and second, in-house peer reviews. Four, we utilized a post-field methodology that (a) involved engaging technical experts in the respective thematic areas to review and interrogate the draft reports of the national self-assessment prepared by the technical review teams and (b) a national validation workshop to monitor, evaluate and pronounce on the extent to which the technical reports reflected a reality test of the issues raised on the ground was held by stakeholders. We would like to extend our appreciation and thanks to H.E. the President for the confidence reposed in us and for the opportunity to serve our country. We want to also thank in particular H.E. the President and Government for the complete independence This is a confidential working document ofii the African Peer Review Mechanism and should not be quoted or published until the review process is complete and country report is released in its final form.
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that enabled us to do our work in an autonomous, objective and professional manner. We wish to place on record that there was no interference in preparing this report. To us, this demonstrates the commitment of H.E. the President to the APRM process as an intervention that can promote good governance and progress on the African continent. Our thanks also go to the technical review teams, to stakeholders from all parts of the country and all those who assisted us in diverse ways to oversee the process of implementation of the APRM in Ghana. Ghana has always been committed to Pan-Africanism and through the prism of our own history and experience we have no doubt that the APRM can make a major contribution towards Africa’s renaissance and turn around the poverty and marginalization of the continent. Submitted by the National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council this 25th day of February 2005, Accra, Ghana.
………………………………………… Rev. Prof. S.K. Adjepong – Chairman
……………………………………….. Amb. Alex N. Abankwa - Member
…………………………………………. Prof. S.K.B. Asante - Member
…………………………………………………….. The Most Rev. Dr. Bishop Paul Bemile - Member
………………………………………… Prof. Miranda Greenstreet – Member
…………………………………… Nutifafa Kuenyehia Esq. - Member
…………………………………….. Ms. Gloria Ofori-Boadu - Member
…………………………………………….. Dr. Francis Appiah – Executive Secretary
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE. ……………………………………………………………………….i TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS …………………………………………………………. ix
INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER ONE 5
DEMOCRACY AND GOOD POLITICAL GOVERNANCE 5
INTRODUCTION 13 1.1 METHODOLOGY 15 1.2 OBJECTIVE 1 : MECHANISMS FOR THE PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION OF INTER- AND INTRE-STATE CONFLICT 17
1.3 OBJECTIVE 2: THE CONSTITUTION, THE RULE OF LAW, DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS AND POLITICAL COMPETITION 24
1.4 OBJECTIVE 3: PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF CIVIL, ECONOMIC SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS 35
15. OBJECTIVE 4: SEPARATION OF POWERS BETWEEN BRANCHES OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT 43 16. OBJECTIVE 5: EFFECTIVENESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES 45 17. OBJECTIVE 5B: MEDIA AND CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE 50 1.8 OBJECTIVE 6: CORRUPTION IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE 54 1.9 OBJECTIVE 7: PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS 59 1.10 OBJECTIVE 8. PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS 62
1.11 OBJECTIVE 9: PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS VULNERABLE GROUPS 66 1.12 CONCLUSION 68 This is a confidential working document ofiv the African Peer Review Mechanism and should not be quoted or published until the review process is complete and country report is released in its final form.
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CHAPTER TWO
ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
2.1 THE OBJECTIVES, GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND SCOPE OF THE REPORT 69 2.2 METHODOLOGY 71 2.3 THE MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 73 2.3.2 MACROECONOMIC TRENDS IN THE GHANAIAN ECONOMY 76 2.4 ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARDS AND CODES 79
2.5 OBJECTIVE ONE: PROMOTING MACROECONOMIC POLICIES TO SUPPORT 84 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2.6 OBJECTIVE TWO: PROMOTING SOUND, TRANSPARENT AND PREDICTABLE GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC POLICIES 89 2.7 OBJECTIVE THREE: PROMOTING SOUND PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT 96 2.8 OBJECTIVE FOUR: FIGHT CORRUPTION AND MONEY LAUNDERING 104 2.9 OBJECTIVE FIVE: ACCELERATING REGIONAL INTEGRATION BY PARTICIPATING IN THE HARMONIZATION OF MONETARY, TRADE AND INVESTMENT POLICIES 111 2.10 GENDER PERSPECTIVES IN ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT 114
CHAPTER THREE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 3.0 INTRODUCTION 116 3.1 APRM CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 116 3.2 METHODOLOGY 117 3.3 FINDINGS ON STANDARDS AND CODES 118 3.4 OBJECTIVE 1: PROMOTE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT AND EFFECTIVE REGULATORY FRAME WORK FOR ECONOMIC ACTIVATES 123
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3.5 OBJECTIVE 2: ENSURE THAT CORPORATIONS ACT AS GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN WITH REGARDS TO HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 141 3.6 OBJECTIVE 3: PROMOTING ADOPTION OF CODES OF GOODS BUSINESS ETHICS IN ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CORPORATION 150 OBJECTIVE 4: ENSURING THAT CORPORATIONS TREAT ALL THEIR STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING SHAREHOLDERS, EMPLOYERS, COMMUNITIES AND SUPPLIERS FAIRLY 156
3.8 OBJECTIVE 5: PROVIDING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OF CORPORATIONS, DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS 164
CHAPTER FOUR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN GHANA
4.0 INTRODUCTION 174
4.1 OVERVIEW OF SOCIO-ECON DEVELOPMENT IN GHANA 175 4.2 METHODOLOGY FOR FIELD STUDY
4.3 FINDINGS ON STANDARDS AND CODES 183
4.4 OBJECTIVE ONE: ENSURING SELF-RELIANCE IN DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING CAPACITY FOR SELF- SUSTAINING DEVELOPMENT 188
4.5 OBJECTIVE TWO: ACCELERATE SOCIAL-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT T ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND POVERT ERADICATION 190
4.6 OBJECTIVE THREE: STRENGTHEN POLICIES, DELIVERY MECHANISMS AND OUTCOMES IN KEY SOCIAL AREAS 198
4.7 OBJECTIVE FOUR: ENSURING AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO WATER, SANITATION ENERGY, FINANCE MARKETS, ICT,
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SHELTER AND LAND FOR ALL CITIZENS ESPECIALLY THE POOR 209
4.8 OBJECTIVE FIVE: PROGRESS TOWARDS GENDER 214 MAINSTREAMING AND EQUALITY 4.9 OBJECTIVE SIX: BROAD-BASED PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPMENT 217 4.10 RECOMMENDATIONS 218
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION 5.0 KEY ISSUES AND CHALLENGE
LIST OF TABLES 4.1 Compliance to Standards and Codes (Survey Responses) 182 4.2 Employment and Unemployment 193 4.3 Pupil/Teacher Ratios, 1998-2003 196 4.4 Percentage of Trained Teachers in Primary Schools by Region 197 4.5 Literacy Rates, 1997 and 2003 198 4.6 Basic Health Indicators 202 4.7 Stock of Housing Units by Region 205 4.8 Water Facilities Provided by CWSA: 1994 – 2003 209 4.8 Access to Food Markets (%) 211 4.9 Type of Cases Reported at WAJU by the Public (1999 – 2003) 213 4.10 Attitude towards Domestic Violence Bill, in Percentages 213 4.11 Woman In Public Life from 1992 to 2003 214
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LIST OF FIGURES
3.1 Number of Businesses Registered by RGD 120 3.2 Sectoral Distribution of Market Capitalisation (December 2003) 122 3.3 Processing Time for Business Registration by Relevant Agencies 123 3.4 Energy Consumption by Sector 130 3.5 Perception of Compliance with Labour Law (N = 99) 140 3.6 Perception of Compliance with laws (N = 107) 140 4.1 Human Development Index (HDI), 1975-2002 172 4.2 Real GDP Growth and Real Per Capita GDP Growth, 1970-2003 173 4.3 Ration of Grants to Total Revenue 187 4.4 Regional Distribution of Households by Poverty Status 191 4.5 Percentage Distribution of Working Age Population by Work Status 193 4.6 Percentage Distribution of Working Population by Sector 194 4.7 Selected Education Indicators 197 4.8 Male and Female University Enrolment 199 4.9 Growth in University Enrolment, 1995-2003 200 4.10 Time Taken to Health Facility by Region 203 4.11 Time Taken to Drinking Water Supply by Region 207 4.12 Household by Selected Sources of Drinking Water 207 4.13 Households Owning TV and Radio, 1991/92, 1998/99 & 2003 210 4.14 Survey Responses on Science and Technology Promotion and Application 211
This is a confidential working document viiiof the African Peer Review Mechanism and should not be quoted or published until the review process is complete and country report is released in its final form.
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ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
DEMOCRACY AND GOOD POLITICAL GOVERNANCE
ACRWC African Charter on Rights and Welfare of Children ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution AFRC Armed Forces Revolutionary Council APRM African Peer Review Mechanism AU African Union BPEMS Budget and Public Expenditures Management System CBO Community Based Organizations CDD Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana CEPS Customs, Excise and Preventive Service CESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights CHRAJ Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice CLRAL Child Law Reform Advisory Committee CPP Convention People’s Party CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations) CSPIP Civil Service Performance Improvement Program DACF District Assemblies Common Fund DCE District Chief Executives DDS Development Dialogue Series DISSEC District Security Council DPP Democratic People’s Party DSW Department of Social Welfare EAGLE Every Accountable Ghanaian Living Everywhere EC Electoral Commission ECCD Early Childhood Care and Development ECOMOG ECOWAS Military Observation Group ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States GCPP Greater Consolidated People’s Party GNACSA Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons GNCC Ghana National Commission on Children GNPC Ghana National Petroleum Corporation GPRS Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy IPPD Integrated Personnel and Payroll Database IRS Internal Revenue Service MMDA Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies MOWAC National Ministry for Women’s and Children’s Affairs MP Member of Parliament MTEF Medium-Term Expenditure Framework NAPRM-GC National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council NDC National Democratic Congress NEPAD New Partnership for African Development NGO Non-Governmental Organization
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NGP National Governance Program NHIS National Health Insurance Scheme NIRP National Institutional Renewal Program NPP New Patriotic Party NRC National Reconciliation Commission NRP National Reform Party NSC National Security Council OAU Organization of African Unity ODA Overseas Development Agency PNC People’s National Convention PNDC Provisional National Defence Council PSC Public Services Commission PSFMR Public Sector Financial Management and Reform Program PSMRP Public Sector Management and Reform Program PUSERMOS Public Sector Reinvention and Modernization Strategy REGSEC Regional Security Council SFO Serious Fraud Office TI Transparency International UNAMSIL United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone UNDP United Nations Development Program WAJU Women and Juvenile Unit, Ghana Police Service
ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
AfDB African Development Bank AGOA African Growth and Opportunities Act BoG Bank of Ghana BPEMS Budget Planning and Expenditure Management System CDD Center for Democracy and Development CDF Comprehensive Development Framework CEPA Center for Economic Policy Research CEPS Customs, Excise and Preventive Services CIDA Canadian International Development Agency CG Consultative Group of Donors CSP Country Strategic Plan DANIDA Danish International Development Agency DfID Department for International Development (U.K.) EC European Commission ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States EMT Economic Management Team EPCC Economic Policy Coordinating Committee ERSO Economic Reform Support Operation (of the World Bank) ESAF Enhanced Structural Adjustment Policy (of the IMF) EU European Union This is a confidential working document ofx the African Peer Review Mechanism and should not be quoted or published until the review process is complete and country report is released in its final form.
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GDP Gross Domestic Product GLSS Ghana Living Standards Survey GoG Government of Ghana GPRS Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy GTZ German Agency for Technical Assistance HIPC Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative IEA Institute for Economic Affairs IMF International Monetary Fund MDAs Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDBS Multi Donor Budget Support MoCT Ministry of Communications and Technology MoEd Ministry of Education MoEn Ministry of Energy MoES Ministry of Environment and Science MoFA Ministry of Food and Agriculture MoFEP Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning MoMDE Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment MoPSD Ministry of Private Sector Development MoTI&PSI Ministry of Trade, Industry & President’s Special Initiatives MTEF Medium Term Expenditure Framework NDPC National Development Planning Commission NED National Economic Dialogue NGO Non Governmental Organization OECD Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development PEF Private Enterprise Foundation PER Public Expenditure Review PRGF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility PRSC Poverty Reduction Support Credit PUFMARP Public Financial Management Reform Programme RAGB Revenue Agencies Governing Board USAID U.S. Agency for International Development UNICEF United Nations VAT Value Added Tax WTO World Trade Organization
This is a confidential working document ofxi the African Peer Review Mechanism and should not be quoted or published until the review process is complete and country report is released in its final form.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ACMF African Capital Markets Forum AMSCO African Management Services Company BoG Bank of Ghana CAGG Commonwealth Association of Corporate Governance CDD Centre for Democracy and Development – Ghana CEO Chief Executive Officer CFO Chief Financial Officer CHRAJ Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice GACC Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition EPA Environmental Protection Agency GBA Ghana Bar Association GJA Ghana Journalists Association GNAS Ghana National Accounting Standards GSE Ghana Stock Exchange IFEJ Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists IMF International Monetary Fund IoD (Ghana) Institute of Directors (Ghana) IRS Internal Revenue Service NIC National Insurance Commission OECD Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development PEF Private Enterprise Foundation RGD Registrar-General’s Department SEC Securities and Exchange Commission SOEs State-owned enterprises SSNIT Social Security and National Insurance Trust USAID United States Agency for International Aid VRA Volta River Authority
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SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Abbreviation Names in full AAGDS Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Development Strategy AGI Association of Ghana Industries APR Annual Progress Report APRM African Peer Review Mechanism ARI Acute Respiratory Infection ARV Anti Retro Viral drugs BRRI Building and Road Research Institute CAGD Controller and Accountant General's Department CBO'S Community Based Organisations CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women CHAG Christian Health Association of Ghana CHRAJ Commission for Human Rights and Administration of Justice CIDA Canadian International Development Agency CNTCI CNT Construction Investment CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child CRT Criteria Reference Test CSO Civil Society Organisation CWIQ Core Welfare Indicators Questionnaire CWSA Community Water and Sanitation Agency DACF District Assemblies Common Fund DA'S District Assemblies DEOC District Education Oversight Committee DHMT District Health Management Team DMTDP District Medium Term Development Plan DPCU District Planning Coordinating Unit DP'S Development Partners DRHCI Department of Rural Housing and Cottage Industry EC Energy Commission ECG Electricity Company of Ghana ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States EI Executive Instrument EU European Union FAWE Forum of African Women Educationist FBO'S Faith Based Organisations FCUBE Free and Compulsory Universal Basic Education FIDA Federacion International D'Abogadas: The International Federation of Women Lawyers FM Frequency Modulation GAC Ghana AIDS Commission GARFUND Ghana Aids Responds Fund GAWE Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs GDHS Ghana Demographic and Health Survey GDP Gross Domestic Product GES Ghana Education Service This is a confidential working document xiiiof the African Peer Review Mechanism and should not be quoted or published until the review process is complete and country report is released in its final form.
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GHS Ghana Health Service GIFTEL Ghana Investment Fund for Telecommunications GIPC Ghana Investment Promotion Council GLSS Ghana Living Standard Survey GNCC Ghana National Commission on Children GNI Gross National Index GNP Gross National Product GOG Government of Ghana GPER Gross Primary Enrolment Rate GPRS Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy GREDA Ghana Real Estate Developers Association GSB Ghana Standards Board GVSSN Gender Violence Survivors Support Network GWCL Ghana Water Company Limited HDI Human Development Index HDR Human Development Report HFC Home Finance Company HFH Habitat for Humanity HIPC Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative HIV/AIDS Human Immune Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome HPI Human Poverty Index ICPD International Conference on Population and Development ICT Information and Communication Technologies ID Intercom Data Network IEA Institute of Economic Affairs IFC International Finance Corporation IGF Internally Generated Fund IGR Internally Generated Revenue IMF International Monetary Fund IPMG Inter-Agency Poverty Monitoring Groups I-PRSP Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper ISSER Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency JSS Junior Secondary School KMA Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly KVIP Kumasi Ventilation Improved Pit M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MDA'S Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDBS Multi Donor Budget Support MDG Millennium Development Goals MLGRD Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development MMDA'S Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly MOC Ministry of Communications MOE Ministry of Education MOF Ministry of Finance MOFEP Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning MOH Ministry of Health MOWAC Ministry of Women's and Children's Affairs This is a confidential working document xivof the African Peer Review Mechanism and should not be quoted or published until the review process is complete and country report is released in its final form.
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MOWH Ministry of Works and Housing MP'S Members of Parliament MTEF Medium Term Expenditure Framework MTP'S Medium Term Priorities NACP National Aids Control Program NBSSI National Board for Small Scale Industries NCA National Communication Authority NCS Network Computer Systems NCTE National Council for Tertiary Education NCWD National Commission on Women and Development NCWSP National Community Water and Sanitation Programme NDPC National Development Planning Commission NED Northern Electrification Department NEG National Electricity Grid NEPAD New Partnership for African Development NFED Non-Formal Education Division NFLS Nairobi Forward Looking Strategy NGO'S Non-Governmental Organisation NHIF National Health Insurance Fund NHIS National Health Insurance Scheme NIPMG National Inter-Agency Poverty Monitoring Group NUGS National Union of Ghana Students NUPS National Union of Polytechnic Students ODA Overseas Development Assistance PAMSCAD Programme of Action to Mitigate the Social Costs of Adjustment PEF Private Enterprise Foundation PFA Platform for Action PLWHAS Persons Living With HIV and AIDS PPMED Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division PRGF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility PRSC Poverty Reduction Support Credit PSIA Poverty and Social Impact Assessment PSI'S Presidential Special Initiatives PSP Private Sector Participation PTA Parent Teacher Association PTR Pupil-Teacher Ratio PURC Public Utilities Regulatory RCC'S Regional Coordinating Councils RESPRO Renewable Energy Service Project RFI Rural Financial Institutions S&T Science and Technology SEA Strategic Environment Assessment SHEP Self Help Electrification Project SIF Social Investment Fund SMC'S School Management Committees SMO Senior Minister Office SPAM School Performance Appraisal Meetings SSNIT Social Security and National Insurance Trust This is a confidential working document xvof the African Peer Review Mechanism and should not be quoted or published until the review process is complete and country report is released in its final form.
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SSS Senior Secondary School STI Sexually Transmitted Infections STME Science and Mathematics at the Basic Level of Education TCPD Town and Country Planning Department TUC Trades Union Congress UN United Nations UNDP United Nation Development Programme UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Assistance UNICEF United Nations International Children Educational Fund VAT Value Added Tax VRA Volta River Authority WAJU Women's Abuse and Juvenile Unit WATSAN Water and Sanitation WDF Women Development Fund WDR World Development Report WIAD Women in Agricultural Development WID Women in Development WISE Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment WSRS Water Sector Restructuring Secretariat WSSD World Summit on Sustainable Development
This is a confidential working document xviof the African Peer Review Mechanism and should not be quoted or published until the review process is complete and country report is released in its final form.
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INTRODUCTION
1. The world has become a fast changing and complex place shaped by the forces of competition, globalization, liberalization, regionalism and technological advancement. Whilst other regions of the world have taken advantage of these forces to foster business and investment opportunities and to spur growth and prosperity for their people, in Africa poverty, squalor, underdevelopment and marginalization continue to deepen.
2. There is no gainsaying that a major factor accounting for the inability of Africa to lift itself out of poverty and marginalization is the inability of African governments to foster democracy and good political governance, promote sound economic management, facilitate corporate governance and pursue socio- economic development.
3. It is to address these shortcomings that the APRM invariably has made these thematic areas the four pillars on which its import rests in the Country Self- assessment process.
The link between NEPAD and APRM
4. This Country Self-Assessment Report of the Republic of Ghana relating to the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has been prepared in the context of the country’s embrace of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as an African development initiative approved by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and endorsed by the African Union (AU). NEPAD is a home-grown, African owned, designed and self-managed comprehensive development programme put together by African leaders in a fresh attempt to move the continent out of its socio-economic predicament and marginalization in the process of globalization. NEPAD seeks to develop a new partnership first and foremost among African governments and their people so that Africans can be the architects and builders of their own socio-economic development.
5. Whilst NEPAD acknowledges that external factors like several years of slavery and colonialism, unequal terms of trade, the debt burden and conditional lending have contributed to Africa’s underdevelopment it maintains that charity must begin at home. In its honest and critical diagnosis of the African condition, NEPAD admits that leadership failure lies at the heart of the crisis of development confronting the continent. Leaders who pursued military adventurism, one-party rule and dictatorship, ran centrally planned economies, corruption and mal- administration ruined Africa’s development.
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6. Through a sustained struggle for freedom, liberty and fairness, Africa has now been blessed with a new breed of leaders with the political will, determination and commitment to confront the developmental challenges in partnership with their peoples. These leaders do not only believe in democracy and good political governance they also accept that they have the primary responsibility to overcome the poverty and deprivation facing the continent. They are occupying the driving seat of the NEPAD enterprise and aspire to use this as a vision and development framework while outlining sectoral priority programmes of action as a strategy to eradicate the stark poverty facing the continent. At the same time a vibrant and articulate civil society has emerged to demand accountability and transparency from African leaders.
7. As part of measures to demonstrate that African leaders are committed to the implementation of NEPAD, the second meeting of the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) of NEPAD in Abuja, Nigeria, on March 26, 2002 endorsed the establishment of an African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
8. The APRM is an instrument voluntarily acceded to by Member States of the African Union as an African self-monitoring mechanism that will foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub regional and continental economic integration.
Ghana and the APRM Process
9. Ghana is a country that is traditionally committed to the spirit of Pan-Africanism. Besides, Ghana has a political leadership that is steeped in the principle that democracy and development are inextricably linked. In particular under the current Constitution adopted in 1992, the government of Ghana has resolved to entrench democracy and good governance not only in Ghana but in other African countries as well. To this end, Ghana is attempting to play a leadership role in the continent in the implementation of the APRM. The government has the firm belief that the APRM is an instrument that can foster an enabling environment for the development and progress of Africans.
10. Ghana was the first country in Africa to make a public declaration to volunteer to accede to the APRM and was also among the first few countries that officially acceded to the APRM. With the presentation of the Country Self-Assessment Report and Draft Programme of Action to the APR Panel, Ghana becomes one of the premier countries to have submitted itself to peer review.
The National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council
This is a confidential working document of2 the African Peer Review Mechanism and should not be quoted or published until the review process is complete and country report is released in its final form.
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11. The National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council (NAPRM-GC) which was set up as an independent and autonomous national structure, prepared this Country Self-Assessment report. It was guided in the preparation of this report by the principles of autonomy, integrity and professionalism so as to make the report technically competent, credible, free from political interference and an all-inclusive national exercise.
12. The Governing Council is made up of seven persons appointed by the President of Ghana. The men and women of the Governing Council were selected on account of their excellent professional track records and the high regard they command in Ghanaian society on account of their sense of judgement. The President charged the Council to be independent, frank and objective in assessing the performance of Ghanaian institutions and processes of governance. They are also noted to be non-partisan.
The National Technical Review Teams
13. To assist in the technical work of the Country Self-Assessment the Governing Council engaged the services of four independent civil society organizations as National Technical Review Teams. They assisted the work of the Governing Council in administering, collating and analyzing the country self-assessment questionnaire in the four thematic areas sent by the APR Panel in South Africa. The National Technical Review Teams are: