A nine-member African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Oversight Committee charged to oversee the implementation of the APRM process in Sunyani Municipality has been inaugurated in Sunyani. The Committee has the Reverend Richard Owusu Akyeaw, a clergyman, as Chairman. Other members were Mr. Pascal Assan Edwards, a youth activist as Vice-Chairman, Mr. Seth Opuni and Mrs. Henrietta Asuman, both civic union leaders as secretary and treasurer respectively, Mr. Raphael Ahenu, a journalist as public relations officer. The rest are Mrs. Margaret Addae and Mr. Kwame Kyei-Baffour, both Assembly members, Mrs. Elizabeth Frimpong and Mr. Joseph Obeng-Konadu, members. Mr. Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, appealed to Ghanaians to help sustain and promote good governance to guarantee the rapid development of Ghana and Africa at large. He recounted the chequered political history of most African states and reminded Ghanaians not to undermine efforts being made in strengthening the current democratic culture as that had the tendency to derail the country's development efforts. "In Pakistan, for instance, one man just gets up and declares a state of emergency. He just draws his people into the courts to administer justice. This is not what we want to see here.'' ''APRM would be the mirror of Africa in promoting good governance. Western democracy is not different from the democracy practised in Africa. Democracy in Africa could do well if well nurtured", he said. Prof S. K. B. Adjapong, President of the Methodist University of Ghana who is Chairman of the National African Peer Review Mechanism - Governing Council, said Ghana was the first country in Africa to be reviewed and assessed under the four substantive areas of democracy and good political governance, economic governance and management, corporate governance and socio-economic development. He said 27 out of the 52 African states representing 70 per cent of the continent's nation-states had so far undergone the review process. Professor Adjapong said civil society participation at the grass root level was key to the APRM implementation process and its programme of action. He urged members of the committee to seek assistance from the Municipal Chief Executive and should discharge their duties devoid of partisanship. "The APRM is an independent body and any attempt to politicize its activities would amount to thwarting its aims and objectives", Prof Adjapong. Source: GNA