Sirleaf wins Mo Award

Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has been officially presented with the $5 million Mo Ibrahim award in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation commended Sirleaf for her “exceptional and transformative leadership” in helping steer Liberia’s recovery from many years of civil war before handing over to former FIFA world best footballer George weah.

She becomes the fifth recipient of the award which is in its tenth year. Since its inception in 2007, the prize founded by Sudanese telecommunications tycoon Mo Ibrahim has not been awarded in some years because there was no leader considered worthy of it.

the Mo Ibrahim award is held every year in a different African country. It  include a Governance Forum, a Concert and the Leadership Ceremony.

It aims to distinguish leaders who, during their time in office, have developed their countries, strengthened democracy and human rights for the shared benefit of their people, and advanced sustainable development.

Candidates for the award have to be democratically elected African heads of state or government who have left office during the previous three years at the end of their mandated terms.

The prize is $5 million paid out over ten years, with another $200,000 annually throughout the winner’s lifetime.

Past winners of the prize include Mozambique’s former President Joaquim Chissano, Botswana’s former President Festus Mogae, Cape Verde’s former President Pedro Verona Pires and Namibia’s former President Hifikipunye Pohamba.