Dr. Ibrahim, Chairman of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, was speaking when he launched the foundation's dialogue in French-speaking West Africa.
According to him, the foundation does not accept money from governments anywhere, stressing: "ours is an African foundation and money made in Africa."
He said the Foundation's policy was very crucial for Africa's credibility drive, saying this would go a long way towards enhancing the process of preaching transparency on the continent.
"Who are we?" he asked and quickly answered: "We are not government or oppositio n people, but members of the civil society. We are concerned about what is goingn on in Africa and what we need is good governance."
He therefore urged civil society activists to use the governance index as a tool for measuring good governance and development in African countries.
Turning to "The Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership", Dr. Ibrahim said that Africa needed heroes like Nelson Mandela, the former South African President.
He said leaders who put the interest of their citizens first before "family or tribal interest" needed to be recognized and hailed as "heroes" of the continent.
Dr. Ibrahim further cited the former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano who was the first winner of the prize, as an example.
The "Achievement Prize" is said to be the largest annually-awarded prize in the world, with US$ 5 million given to the winner over 10 years and US$ 200,000 annually for life thereafter.
Dakar - 18/04/2008
Panapress
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