Leaders set timetable for peer review

African leaders have agreed to start a review process on the key areas of good governance, democracy, human rights, transparency and domestic business environment under the peer review mechanism of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). At a two-day conference that ended on Saturday in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, the African heads of state and government agreed to review their economic and political policies, with the aim of winning over donors and wooing foreign investors. The countries whose review is expected to take place in 2004 are Ghana and Rwanda, in April and June respectively. Kenya and Mauritius will also to be reviewed but the process for these nations is expected to end in early 2005. The purpose of the peer review is to foster the adoption of appropriate laws, policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth and sustainable development on the continent. "The most important thing is that we can start the review process now," President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria said. The conference, whose general resolutions have not yet been made public, was also expected to come up with the rules and procedure of the review process that would ensure transparency and accountability. Angola has expressed a desire to accede to the mechanism in Frbruary. Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Gabon, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda have already signed up. NEPAD established the peer review mechanism in 2003 in a bid to counter Africa's reputation for bad governance.