The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has announced its
decision not to award the 2010 edition of its legendary award of excellence for ex-African leaders.
A statement emailed to the Ghana News Agency on Sunday said, after a meeting by the Prize Committee yesterday, members informed the Board of the Foundation that it could not select a winner.
Last year, the Committee also failed to select a winner, which sparked a lot of row especially in Ghana because it came up that former President John Agyekum Kufuor was in the list of nominee.
The statement said the Prize Committee considered some credible candidates, but after in depth review could not select a winner.
The Ibrahim Prize recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership. The prize is awarded to a democratically elected former African Executive Head of State or Government, who has served their term in office within the limits, set by the country's constitution and has left office in the last three years.
The first winner of the Prize was Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique in 2007, followed by Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana in 2008. In addition, in 2007, Nelson Mandela was made an Honorary Laureate by the Foundation.
The statement said Mo Ibrahim, the founder and Chairman of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, welcomed the Committee's decision saying: "The Board respects the decision of the Prize Committee not to select a winner for the 2010 prize. The Prize Committee, which is independent from the Board, is a unique repository of experience and expertise.
"Whether there is a winner or not, the purpose of the Foundation is to challenge those in Africa and across the world to debate what constitutes excellence in leadership" it noted.
The statement said the standards set for the prize winner were high and the number of potential candidates each year was small,
therefore it was likely that there would be years when no Prize was awarded and in the current year, no new candidates emerged.
"Many African countries are making great strides not just economically, but also in terms of their governance. The Ibrahim Index, which measures the performance of African countries across around 80 governance criteria, indicates that the overall standard of governance is improving", it stressed.
It said the Foundation was complacent about the standards of governance in Africa, since its mission was to improve governance and nurture
leadership in Africa.
The Ibrahim Prize consists of US$5million over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter. The Foundation will consider granting a further $200,000 per year, for 10 years, towards public interest activities and good causes espoused by the winner.
The Prize Committee is chaired by former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Laureate Kofi Annan.