Midrand/Johannesburg (South Africa) - April 12, 2011. An African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Delegation is undertaking a Follow-up Mission in Sierra Leone. The Mission, which commenced its activities on 12 April 2011, is led by Barrister Akere Muna, a member of the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons appointed in March 2011 to supervise the review of this West African country in the areas of Democracy and Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Socio-economic Development and Corporate Governance.

In Freetown, the capital, Barrister Akere Muna will hold talks with His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. He will also meet with local authorities in charge of the APRM, particularly Alhaji Alpha Kanu, Minister of Political and Public Affairs, who also serves as the National APRM Focal Point.

Barrister Akere Muna will have a working session with Dr. Osman Gbla, an experienced academic, Chairperson of the National Governing Council, the structure that was officially launched on 15 September 2008 by the Head of State of Sierra Leone.

The various exchanges will enable the APRM Delegation to prepare for the Review Mission scheduled for May 2011 in Sierra Leone.

Barrister Akere Muna, the founder and former President of the Cameroonian branch of Transparency International (TI), is conversant with this exercise. He was in charge of the Review Process of Ethiopia, whose report was presented and discussed at the 14^th Forum of Heads of State and Government Participating in the APRM on 29 January 2011 in Addis Ababa.

The current Vice-President of Transparency International, who is also Chairman of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (AU-ECOSOCC), is accompanied in Freetown by Dr. Moïse Nembot and Mr. Dalmar Jama, respectively Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the APRM Secretariat and Research Analyst.

The mission ends on 15 April 2011.

Sierra Leone has been a member of the APRM since 2004. The decision to send a Mission there was taken on 15 March 2011 during the 48^th Meeting of the APRM Panel that was held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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