Addis Ababa — The Ethiopian government has started the process of Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) which is aiming to ensure good governance and accountability in Africa.

Dr Liku Damtew, focal person in Ethiopian Ministry of Capacity Building said the Ethiopian APRM committee has drawn 23 members from political parties, excluding the ruling party.

"Investment groups, civic society associations, academic institutions and Federal government are also represented in the evaluation process" Dr Liku explained.

The committee is expected to prepare a report showing where the country stands in democracy, economic and social sectors He said.

"Ethiopia is going to become the seventh country in Africa to compile the report in this innovative governance self evaluation process" Liku added.

So far 29 African countries are participating in the bid and only South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Algeria and Benin have submitted their report to the APRM forum chaired by Ethiopian Prime Minster Meles Zenawi.

The APRM is a mutually agreed instrument voluntarily acceded to by the member states of the African Union (AU) as a self-monitoring mechanism.

The mandate of the APRM is to encourage conformity in regard to political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards, among African countries and the objectives in socio-economic development within the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

The APRM evaluation is focusing on Democracy, Political, Economic and development governance in each country.The APRM process is based on a "self-assessment" questionnaire developed by the APR Secretariat based in South Africa