Good governance means using country’s resources to transform the livelihood of people and society

With Mo Ibrahim Prize of Achievement in African Leadership, the leadership is not just about good governance, but exceptional leadership where people transforms society and governance. The prize is not given because of maintaining public relation. Once people start to appreciate what real governance mean to their livelihood, to their future, things will change.

“Our objective always has been to real start a debate, to bring governance as real a central issue to the table; I think we are doing  much better….” Mo Ibrahim

In an interview with the Economist July 2010, Mo Ibrahim explained why the Mo Ibrahim Prize of Achievement in African Leadership did not award the $5million for the years 2009 and 2010. He said that, the period in question, the award committee did not find much development in African leadership.

With Mo Ibrahim Prize of Achievement in African Leadership, the leadership is not just about good governance, but exceptional leadership where people transforms society and governance. The prize is not given because of maintaining public relation. Once people start to appreciate what real governance mean to their livelihood, to their future, things will change.

Recognizing African governance improvement in Ibrahim Index of African Governance, he added that over 4 years, the Foundation has exceeded its expectations as now people are interested in the governance matters, governance debates are happening and people are interested in the governance subject. Young people and civil societies in Africa are now talking about how they could improve the way they are governed and how to improve democracy and governance.

Mo Ibrahim named examples of exceptional African leaders who have won the prize for the past 4 years. Ex-President Nelson Mandela of South Africa (Honorary Laureate $5m prize 2007), President Joaquim Aberto Chissano of Mozambique ($5m prize 2007) and President Festus Gantebanye Mogae of Botswana ($5m prize 2008)

Explaining more on their achievements, he recognized that Mandela made fantastic transformation from a troubled country to achieving democratic, freedom and peaceful society.

Ex-President Chissano inherited a country ravished by war, poverty, one party rule, central command and he piloted Mozambique through the transition from a Communist to a capitalist ideology, he won his country's first and second multiparty elections, and made history by deciding not to run for his final term in office.

President Festus Gantebanye Mogae ($5m prize 2008) transformed Botswana from a poor to emerging economy country. "I did not create the democracy in my country, I consolidated it and deepened it by practiced, accountable
governance, respect of the rule of law, independence of the courts, respect for human rights, including women's rights. Mr Mogae told the BBC in October 2008. Mr Mogae also inherited a country with one of the world's highest rates of HIV/Aids and he took strong action to tackle it, making Botswana the first sub-Saharan African country where anti-retroviral drugs were widely available for free."

For the past two years 2009 and 2010 the Mo Ibrahim $5 million prize has not been awarded to African leaders because the awarding committee did not find an exceptional leader for the award as there was no much development in countries. Mo Ibrahim recognizes that for the good governance to prevail, country’s resources ought to be reused to transform the livelihood of people and the society.