2007年VOA标准英语-Foundation Hopes to Inspire Good Governance by

By Joan Butler
Washington
27 April 2007
 

The largest annual prize in the world will be awarded for achievement in Africa leadership and the prize committee will be lead by a former U.N. Secretary General. For producer Joan Butler, VOA's Jim Bertel has the story.

Mo Ibrahim Prize committee, chaired by Kofi Annan (front)

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation recently announced former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan will chair the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. He'll be joined by five other eminent¹ personalities² to award the largest leadership prize in the world - $5 million. The award is funded by Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese-born billionaire and founder³ of Celtel. 

At the foundation's launch last October, Ibrahim said there was an urgent need to establish such an award as a way to invest in Africa's future. "I think this was a matter to life and death.  And what we need is to encourage people to deal with that."

The prize is open to former heads of state or government from sub-Saharan Africa who have demonstrated excellence⁴ in leadership. The winner will receive $5 million over 10 years and $200,000 annually⁵ for the rest of their lives.

According to the foundation, the award was established to stimulate⁶ debate about good governance across sub-Saharan Africa and the world; to provide objective criteria⁷ by which citizens can hold their governments accountable; and to recognize achievements in African leadership while providing practical ways for African leaders to build positive legacies⁸ after leaving office.

Mo Ibrahim

The prize committee will evaluate the quality of governance in eight main areas.  They include economic and social development, peace and security, human rights, and the rule of law.

Kofi Annan, the former U.N. Secretary-General said, "We are going to be very engaged as members of the committee, working with each other reviewing the index and the basis and doing the necessary work required for us to have a competent winner."

Annan says good governance, respect for human rights, and the rule of law are absolutely essential for African development.

James Habyarimana is an Assistant Professor at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.  He says African leaders are paying attention to the award, but questions if it i enough to encourage principles of good governance.

"I think in the world after (the) Charles Taylor issues with international courts and some of the noises being made about Robert Mugabe and a few other African leaders, [such as] Mengistu in Ethiopia, I feel like the prize doesn't go far enough to encourage those leaders who have perhaps a bit of a troubled past to use this as a vehicle for this incentive⁹ to actually have any bite."

In an exclusive interview with VOA radio, Annan explained how the award could ultimately inspire current leaders to maintain the highest standards of good governance in Africa.  

"The idea behind the award is to encourage African leaders to work with their people on the issue of good governance,” he said. “To ensure that the people's welfare is on the top of their priorities, that there is respect for the individual dignity and that we are working hard to eliminate poverty and assure full security and other essential issues like health."

Annan says there is a determination to improve the situation in Africa and that working towards Millennium¹⁰ Challenge goals, fighting HIV/AIDS, and increasing economic and social development all require good leadership.

"If you identify a leader who is doing exemplarily well in this area and hold him up, her or him, as an example for his peers and for the continent, I think you are making a major contribution."

The foundation will award the first Mo Ibrahim Prize for African Leadership this October. 

 

1 eminent   

adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的

参考例句：

• We are expecting the arrival of an eminent scientist.我们正期待一位著名科学家的来访。
• He is an eminent citizen of China.他是一个杰出的中国公民。

2 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

3 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

4 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

5 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

6 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

7 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

8 legacies   

n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 )；遗留之物；遗留问题；后遗症

参考例句：

• Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind. 书是伟大的天才留给人类的精神财富。 来自辞典例句
• General legacies are subject to the same principles as demonstrative legacies. 一般的遗赠要与指定数目的遗赠遵循同样的原则。 来自辞典例句

9 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

10 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。