The first conference of state parties to the African Charter on values and principles and administration ended on Wednesday evening, 14 November 2018, in Nairobi, having adopted several resolutions and a call to African countries that have not ratified the Charter to do so at the earliest opportunity.
The two-day conference, attended by 16 member states out of 17 that have ratified the charter, adopted reporting guidelines on its implementation, appropriate strategies for the universal ratification and planning for the second conference of state parties.
Based on the experts’ meeting report, the conference also reaffirmed its commitment to the implementation of the Charter, and effectively in accordance with objective and the purpose of the instrument.
The meeting agreed to establish, in consultation with member state parties, a secretariat to coordinate and undertake the implementation of duties, obligations and responsibilities enshrined in the charter.
Delegates also agreed to mobilize necessary resource to support state capacities besides undertaking periodic review of the charter and making recommendations to the policy organs of African Union.
In her closing remarks, Cabinet Secretary for public service, youth and gender affairs Prof Margaret Kobia, who also chaired the conference, hailed the ministers and delegates for adopting in its entirety the report, and expressed her confidence that member states will bring real change in the quality of public service rendered to the citizens.
“It is gratifying to note that this conference of state parties has today adopted guidelines for reporting on implementation of the African Charter on values and principles of public service and administration, and agreed on strategies for promoting universal ratification of the Charter by all member state,” Prof Kobia said.
“The African Charter on the principles and values of public service and administration is the first legally binding regional public service instruments which serves to promote and improve quality public service delivery, including fighting corruption in the public service. Participants at the meeting were ministers and senior officials from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Republic of Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia,” she concluded.
– APA
