Abuja — The ECOWAS Commission has received with pride the news of the award of the 2011 Mo Ibrahim Prize for Good Governance in Africa to His Excellency Pedro Verona Pires, former President of the Republic of Cape Verde.

In warmly congratulating him on the wonderful achievement, ECOWAS wishes to recall the sterling leadership qualities that make Mr. Pires a deserving winner. Mr. Pires was one of the frontline leaders in the struggle against the Portuguese colonial rule in Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, a struggle that culminated in the independence of his country in 1975 with him as Prime Minister. Always a democrat, he gracefully accepted defeat in the first democratic elections in 1991.

Regaining power in 2001 and maintaining it till he stepped down in August 2011, he consolidated democratic culture in his country through good political and economic governance, policies that consistently placed the country above all West African Member States on several human development indices, and made the country a model of democracy and development for the continent of Africa. A consummate Pan-Africanist, Mr. Pires actively championed the ECOWAS and continental integration efforts. He spared no time and effort in the search for peace and security in the region.

ECOWAS is particularly proud that, within one month, a citizen of our Community has become the recipient of yet another prestigious international award, coming on the heels of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to two ECOWAS citizens. As the region continues to set positive examples for the continent through the actions of its illustrious citizens, it is the conviction of ECOWAS that the Mo Ibrahim Prize will further galvanize the cause of democracy, development and security not only in West Africa, but also throughout the continent.