Kayode Komolafe
27 November 2007
Alexandra, Egypt — An example of "good leadership in Africa" was celebrated in the ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt, yesterday evening as former Moza-mbique's President Joaquim Alberto Chissano received the $5 million Mo Ibrahim Prize.
It was the inaugural edition of the prize established by the Sudanese businessman, Mo Ibrahim, to encourage good governance on the African continent.
The award will be spread over 10 years at $200,000 a year.
To be qualified for the largest prize ever in the world, an African leader must have been freely elected and should have left office in the last three years leaving, behind a legacy of a smooth transition.
Accepting the prize, the maiden laureate, Chissano said Africa could be "run by capable states". He pledged to devote the prize for the activities of his own foundation committed to good governance in Mozambique.
The chairman of the prize committee and former secretary-general of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, said Chissano was adjudged the winner because he showed leadership in ending the 16-year-war that devastated Mozambique by reconciling with the rebels as well as declining to seek a third term in office when the constitution permitted him to do so in 2005.
He said: "Africa is seeing a new generation of talented leaders come forward. But in a world in which the negative can overshadow positive stories, they have too often lacked the international recognition they deserve. Mo Ibrahim has sought to correct this lack of balance.
"The Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership celebrates the positive changes taking place across our continent and, in doing so, will encourage young people to dedicate their lives and abilities to public service.
"Importantly, this is an African initiative and endowed through an African commercial success. By recognising the excellence of one leader, it also celebrates the spirit of millions of Africans, who through hard work and talent, are taking responsibility for their own continent."
The sole sponsor of the prize, Ibrahim, said his foundation is an example of civil society efforts to encourage good governance and criticised those who perceive Africa only in the images of dictators such as Idi Amin of Uganda and Sani Abacha of Nigeria, arguing that no one sees Europe anymore as the continent of brutal fascists such as Adolf Hitler of Germany and Benito Musollini of Italy.
He added: "The Mo Ibrahim Prize aims to give Africa's retired leaders the opportunity and the means to build on their achievements in office, engage civil society and create powerful personal legacies on the continent. It creates a new standard, not just for Africa, but for the world."
During the brief and simple ceremony, recorded visual messages of goodwill were relayed from former South African President, Nelson Mandela, and former American President Bill Clinton.
Mandela, who himself is an honorary laureate of the Mo Ibrahim Prize, expressed hope that the prize would inspire African leaders to conduct themselves with "commitment and honesty".
Clinton acknowledged the leadership challenge facing Africa, but expressed the hope that things would change for the better in the areas of good governance and economic growth.
Other members of the prize committee who were present at the ceremony were former Nigeria's Finance Minister and World Bank Managing Director, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former President of Finland, Marti Ahtisaari, former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, former secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity, Salim Ahmed Salim, and Special adviser to the Director-General of UNIESCO, Aicha bah Dialo.
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