-Says Liberians are proud of her
President George Weah today (Monday) congratulated his predecessor, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for winning the 5th Mo Ibrahim prize for Achievement in African Leadership.
“Madam Sirleaf wherever you are, I say we are proud of you, congratulations,” Weah said at the start of his Speech marking the celebrations of Armed Forces Day at the Barclay Military Training Center in Monrovia on Monday morning.
Earlier, this is the story reported on the announcement of the prize winner carried in the Kenyan Nation newspaper.
By Valerie Koga
Liberia’s ex-president Ellen Sirleaf Johnson has been awarded the 2017 Mo Ibrahim prize for Achievement in African Leadership, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation announced on Monday on its website.
Sirleaf is the fifth winner of the prize since it was first awarded in 2007 to Mozambique’s former President Joaquim Chissano.
PRAISE
The Prize Committee praised her for leading Liberia as it recovered from civil war and “working tirelessly on behalf of the people of Liberia.”
She was also praised for her efforts in reconciliation and nation building.
The committee works independently to select the winner.
Committee Chairman Dr Salim Ahmed Salim said: “Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took the helm of Liberia when it was completely destroyed by civil war and led a process of reconciliation that focussed on building a nation and its democratic institutions.
“Throughout her two terms in office, she worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of Liberia. Such a journey cannot be without some shortcomings and, today, Liberia continues to face many challenges. Nevertheless, during her twelve years in office, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf laid the foundations on which Liberia can now build.”
After the prize was announced, Mo Ibrahim, according to the Foundation’s website, praised Sirleaf for guiding Liberia through a difficult period and ensuring peace and democracy.
“I am proud to see the first woman Ibrahim Laureate, and I hope Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will continue to inspire women in Africa and beyond,” he added.
ELECTION
Sirleaf was elected in 2006 and was the first woman elected as head of State in Africa.
She served two terms until 2018, when she handed over to democratically-elected president George Weah, a former international footballer.
She has been praised for efforts to unite the country after civil war and enabling democracy in the country.
However, during her term in office, several government leaders were dogged with accusations of corruption.
PRIZE
The prize was launched in 2006, but it was not awarded in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 as the committee did not find a leader who met all the criteria for the prize.
Other leaders awarded the prize are presidents Festus Mogae of Botswana, Pedro Pires of Cape Verde and Hifikipunye Pohamba of Namibia.
Nelson Mandela of South Africa was given an honorary award in 2007.
The Ibrahim Prize is a $5 million award paid over 10 years and $200,000 annually for life thereafter.
“The candidates for the Ibrahim Prize are all former African executive heads of state or government who have left office during the last three calendar years, having been democratically elected and served their constitutionally mandated term,” the Mo Ibrahim website indicates.
The Prize Committee praised the former Liberian president’s “exceptional and transformative leadership, in the face of unprecedented and renewed challenges, to lead Liberia’s recovery following many years of devastating civil war”. This is only the fifth time the prize has been awarded in its 10-year history. Sirleaf joins Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia (2014), Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde (2011), Festus Mogae of Botswana (2008) and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique (2007) as an Ibrahim Prize Laureate. Nelson Mandela was made the inaugural Honorary Laureate in 2007.