In a significant move to bolster democratic accountability, President John Dramani Mahama has officially sworn in the newly constituted National African Peer Review Mechanism (NAPRM) Governing Council.

The ceremony, held at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, 10th February 2026, marks a critical milestone in Ghana’s commitment to the pan-African governance framework, coming just days before the country undergoes its landmark second-generation review.

The Council is tasked with providing independent oversight of Ghana's self-assessment and its subsequent review by other African Union (AU) member states.

President Mahama emphasised that the APRM remains a cornerstone of the "Accra Reset" agenda, serving as a mirror for the nation to evaluate its progress in political, economic, and corporate governance.

The inauguration comes at a high-stakes moment for Ghanaian diplomacy. President Mahama revealed that the nation is fully prepared for the second-generation peer review, which is scheduled to take place next week on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

This second-generation review is more rigorous than the initial assessments, focusing on the implementation of past recommendations and the emergence of new challenges, such as digital governance and climate resilience.

“The APRM provides an important platform for evaluating our governance systems and shaping reforms that strengthen democracy and accountability. We are ready to participate fully and to lead this process,” President Mahama declared during the swearing-in.

The new Governing Council is led by the distinguished jurist Professor Akua Kuenyehia, a former judge and First Vice-President of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Her appointment is seen as a signal of the government's desire for a truly independent and world-class evaluation process.

The 2026 NAPRM Governing Council Members:

• Chairperson: Prof. Akua Kuenyehia (Legal and International Human Rights expert)
• Dr Joseph Whittal: Current Chairman of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
• Mr Joseph Obeng: Representing the business and trading community.
• Mr David Ofosu-Dorte: Renowned legal practitioner and infrastructure policy expert.
• Mrs Cornelia Amoah: Veteran communications and social development specialist.

Accepting the mandate, Professor Kuenyehia assured the nation that the Council would operate without fear or favour, ensuring that the voices of civil society and the private sector are captured in the governance report.

“The Council will uphold transparency and the independence of governance institutions in carrying out its work,” Professor Kuenyehia noted in her brief remarks.

Since Ghana became the first country to be reviewed under the APRM in 2006, the mechanism has been credited with identifying early warning signs of political tension and suggesting reforms in the judicial and electoral sectors. The 2026 review is expected to touch upon:

1. Macroeconomic Stability: Assessing the impact of recent debt restructuring and inflation control measures.
2. Anti-Corruption: Evaluating the effectiveness of the OSP and other investigative bodies.
3. Decentralisation: Measuring the progress of local government reforms and the empowerment of district assemblies.

By revitalising the Governing Council, the Mahama administration aims to demonstrate to the international community that Ghana remains a "beacon of democracy" that is not afraid of self-criticism or external peer evaluation.