Monday, October 20, 2008

Prizeworthy leadership

“Good governance is the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development” Kofi Annan, Former United Nations Secretary-General

A story worth sharing about this year's Ibrahim Prize winner - Botswana's former president Festus Mogae. I only hope that one day soon my own country will will have a president who exhibits such humble strength as Mr. Mogae who responded being honored with the following:

"One does one's work, one uses one's best endeavours to do a job as well as one could, and if other people then assess it and judge it to be meritorious and worth of recognition it's then honouring and humbling,....I did not create the democracy in my country, I consolidated it and deepened it by practiced, accountable governance, respect of the rule of law, independence of the courts, respect for human rights, including women's rights"

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It sounds to me very like the sign etched on the outside of our courthouse:

"The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government."

And not unlike John Owen:
"The greatest mercies and blessings that in this world we are made partakers of, next to them of the gospel and the covenant of grace, come to us through this channel and conduit ['the proper work of magistracy' i.e. good government]" (Overcoming Sin and Temptation p352).