Benin report - Institut Africain de la Gouvernance

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: THE APRM PROCESS AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN BENIN__________________________________________________________________________2008 forum. This invitation was publicly reiterated during the Summit of theHeads of State and Government held in Accra, Ghana, in July 2007.1.3 The CRM28. The Benin review mission was conducted by Mrs Marie-Angélique Savané,member of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons, between 15 July and 5 August2007. Benin thus became the sixth country to be assessed and the first nonmembercountry of the NEPAD Implementation Committee. This meant that itwas less informed about the APRM and less prepared for the process. Moreimportantly, it was the first Francophone country in sub-Saharan Africa to beassessed. This was a new experience that will definitely interest othercountries which are experiencing the same realities in the subregion andelsewhere on the continent.29. The mission comprised 14 African experts from about 10 AU member statesselected by virtue of their competence and experience in the field ofgovernance in the different focus areas covered by the APRM. They were:30. For the panel and the APR Secretariat:Mrs Marie-Angélique Savané, head of the mission and member of the APRPanel of Eminent Persons; Mr Gaston M Bushayija, Coordinator:Socioeconomic Development; Mr Moise Nembot, Coordinator: Democracyand Political Governance; Mr Sudir Chuckun, communications officer at theAPR Secretariat; and Mr Dalmar Jama, Research Analyst: CorporateGovernance.31. For partner institutions:Mrs Souad Abdennebi, regional adviser for the promotion of women‟s rightsat the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); Mr Daniel Gbetnkom,economic affairs officer at the ECA for the West African subregion; MrDonatien Bihute, former vice president of the ADB and internationalconsultant representing the ADB; and Mr Racine Kane, country economist atthe ADB.32. For independent experts at the APR Secretariat:Democracy and political governance: Mr Yenikoye Ismael Aboubacar,international consultant and former dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences inNiamey; and Mr Léopold Donfack Sokeng, professor of public law at theUniversity of Douala.Economic governance and management: Mr Mbaya J Kankwenda,international consultant, executive director of the Congolese Institute forDevelopment Research and Strategic Studies (ICREDES), former residentrepresentative of the UNDP, and former minister of planning in theDemocratic Republic of Congo.38