For the second year in a row, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation has come up empty-handed in finding eligible candidates for its Ibrahim Prize, a prize worth quite a notable chunk of change – $5M for the first 10 years, and then another $200K every year thereafter. Yet the award has actually only been given out twice – first in its inaugural year in 2007 and then again in 2008. What gives? The Ibrahim Prize, which celebrates excellence in African leadership looks for a couple key ingredients for its recipient: a democratically elected former African Executive Head of State or Government, who has served his/her term in office within the limits set by the country’s constitution and has left office in the last three years.
A continent of 53 countries and still no exemplary model of leadership and good governance can be found? Is this just yet another perpetuation of the negative images of African despots, living lavishly off the backs of their hard-working, under-paid, oppressed people? Is an award that’s meant to spread the good news that there are “more excellent leaders in Africa than often recognized” actually doing the opposite? The prize committee is made up of seven members, five of whom are African, and all of whom have a rap sheet that clearly gives them the credentials to recognize true leadership when they see it (Nobel Prize laureates, Presidents, diplomats, etc.). Could it be that they’ve set the bar too high, and yet are unwilling to lower it?
Now, before I am accused of optimistically forging a silver lining, let’s deal with reality. Yes, some of Africa’s current leaders have indeed earned themselves a spot on the top twenty World’s Worst Dictators; these clearly aren’t the leaders the Ibrahim Foundation had in mind when it created this award.
The legacy of leadership in Africa, however, will see a new emergence of potential candidates in the coming years, and here’s why: no new leaders came out of office this last year. Rather, some of the best candidates for the Prize are actually doing what they should be doing right now – leading their countries. When their terms come to an end, we will see a new pool of potential candidates who would make worthwhile contenders for the prize.
Liberia’s “Iron Lady”, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has not only shattered any gender glass ceiling, but has led her country in a number of reforms and plans to keep doing so, as she’s running for re-election in October 2011. Originally, she said she would only run for one term, but in her words on running again, “We’ve just built the foundations, and now it’s time to build the walls.” More importantly, she’s constitutionally allowed to run for re-election, and is not attempting to change the constitution in order to stay in office.
The third time was a charm for Ghana’s Professor John Atta Mills who won the Presidential office in a notably free and fair run-off election in 2009 (after two unsuccessful attempts) and has garnered much praise for his democratic leadership.
Finally, Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai battled fraudulent elections, imprisonment, physical injuries and personal tragedies with an unrelenting determination that has led to the halt of record-breaking inflation and the prying open of some democratic space that hasn’t existed in more than 20 years.
Perhaps these notable African heads of state, amongst others, who are currently leading their countries in progressive democratic reforms will soon be worthwhile contenders for the Ibrahim Prize.
I applaud the Foundation’s unwillingness to lower the standards of excellence, for the sake of awarding a substantial prize. During an interview with the BBC, Ibrahim remarked, “the prize is for exceptional leadership.” The BBC also called the award, “the world’s most valuable individual prize,” so it’s not something to simply be tossed around. Good governance and exemplary leadership are hard to find – not impossible – just difficult, and Africa is not alone. I would question whether other continents around the world would also have leaders worthy of “the world’s most valuable individual prize” every single year.
So, while at first glance, the lack of a candidate outstanding enough to receive the Ibrahim Prize is a slightly disappointing reminder of the status of leadership, there seems to be a forthcoming bend in the road, which may shine a light on some of the best examples of African leadership. Ibrahim himself cites the steady growth in quality of governance in Africa over the last few years, according to the Ibrahim Index, so all is not lost. Improvements in governance are taking shape, and the leaders who have forged those paths are worthy of praise, perhaps some even worth of a particular prize.
Who do you think is (or will be) a worthy African contender for the Ibrahim Prize?
Published Date: June 17, 2010