The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has announced its decision not to award the Ibrahim Prize to any winner this year. The Foundation, in a statement, said its Prize Committee had considered some credible candidates, but after an in-depth review, could not select a winner. However, the board of the Foundation said the planned events in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 14 and 15 November 2009 would go ahead. According to the statement, The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is committed to supporting great African leadership that will improve the economic and social prospects of the people of Africa. The Foundation's focus is the promotion of good governance in Africa and the recognition of excellence in African leadership. "The Prize Committee welcomed the progress made on governance in some African countries while noting with concern recent setbacks in other countries. This year the Prize Committee has considered some credible candidates. However, after in-depth review, the Prize Committee could not select a winner."

The committee is chaired by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Other members are former President of Finland and Nobel Laureate, Martti Ahtisaari; former Minister of Education in Guinea and Director of Basic Education at UNESCO, Aïcha Bah Diallo; Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Nobel Laureate, Mohamed el-Baradei; Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, and former Minister of Education and Culture in Mozambique, Graça Machel; former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (and Board member of the Foundation), Mary Robinson; former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity and former Prime Minister of Tanzania (and Board member of the Foundation), Salim Ahmed Salim.

I posted this article two weeks ago.

too bad