Johannesburg, 4 July 2014 – The APRM Continental Secretariat held its very first formal meeting with the Interim APRM CEO and Chief Executive Officer of the NEPAD Agency, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki. The meeting was convened by the Focal Points Chairperson H.E. Amara Konneh and Vice Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent Persons, Ambassador Ashraf Rashed.

Dr. Mayaki was appointed Interim APRM CEO at the 21st Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea held on 25 June 2014. Dr Mayaki will steer the affairs of the Secretariat for the next six months as it embarks on the process of integration into the African Union.

In his address to APRM staff, Dr Mayaki said his main focus will be to see how he can support the Continental Secretariat in building management systems that are effective and efficient so that when the new APRM CEO takes over in January 2015, there will be a solid operational capacity and capability to work from. He said his six months at the helm of the APRM will be characterised by professional, transparent and coherent decision-making.

In his address Focal Points Chairperson H.E. Amar Konneh, expressed his appreciation to the staff for their resolve during these critical times at the Secretariat. H.E. Konneh further called for full cooperation and support of the Acting CEO.

The Decision on the APRM integration into the AU systems was adopted by the AU General Assembly on June 28, 2014.