By Alusine Fullah
The Executive Secretary of African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Mohamed Sheshu Sherriff has informed journalists about the imminent report to be launch by the APRM. He made this announcement/information at the Secretariat office at 12 Paultry Street, Freetown on the 26th October, 2023. According to Mohamed Sheshu Sheriff, the official launch of the report is scheduled for November 1, 2023, at the Freetown International Conference Centre, Bintumani. This momentous occasion will be graced by the esteemed presence of His Excellency the President, Brigadier Rt. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, who will deliver the keynote address.
He went further to give a succinct background about the essence of this launching/ report.
He said: “Sierra Leone is on the brink of making history on November 1, with the highly anticipated launch of the first-ever African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Targeted Review Report on “Unconstitutional Change of Government in Sierra Leone. This report represents an extensive and participatory examination of the causes, consequences, and prevention of unconstitutional means of acquiring power in Sierra Leone since independence. It is also composed to provide important recommendations for revitalizing democratic institutions and advancing good governance in Sierra Leone and the continent of Africa.”
The APRM Sierra Leone Office serves as the country’s focal point for the APRM, a voluntary self-assessment tool established by the African Union since Sierra Leone’s accession to the APRM in 2004, the office branch in Sierra Leone has been responsible for coordinating and facilitating the implementation of the APRM process in the country. This involves conducting a comprehensive country review, engaging stakeholders from government, civil societies, and the private sectors. The office collaborates with the APRM continental secretariat and other country offices to share experiences and enhance regional cooperation.
At the end of the press conference, Augustine Jumu talked about the primary goal of APRM in Sierra Leone. He said: “The primary goal of the APRM Sierra Leone Office is to promote good governance, transparency, and accountability, with the aim of fostering socio-economic development and improving the well-being of Sierra Leone’s citizens.