Accra, Ghana - Former Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba has been awarded the 2014 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation said on Saturday.
The award was presented at a special ceremony in Accra, Ghana, on Friday night, the foundation said on its website.
In presenting the award, independent prize committee chairman Salim Ahmed Salim said Pohamba’s “focus in forging national cohesion and reconciliation at a key stage of Namibia’s consolidation of democracy and social and economic development impressed the prize committee. His ability to command the confidence and the trust of his people is exemplary”.
Pohamba said: “This honour is not for me alone. I accept it with a sense of great humility, on behalf of the Namibian people, who entrusted me, through democratic processes, to lead our country as president for two consecutive terms. Their commitment to uphold democracy and the rule of law, made the modest achievements that were recorded during my tenure of office possible.”
The ceremony was punctuated by a stellar line up of musicians as well as speeches from Mo and Hadeel Ibrahim, and the President of Ghana John Mahama.
African News Agency