A decision by to honour Guyana’s President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali with the prestigious Global Africa Leadership Award later this month was announced by the Africa Prosperity Network (APN).
On January 9th, the APN’s Executive Chairman, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, outlined the significance of the award, and attributes this decision to Guyana’s remarkable achievement as the world’s fastest-growing economy, and its commitment to principles of equity and probity.
It was stated that President Ali’s selection is as a result of his transformative leadership since assuming office in 2020, gaining commendation for his commitment to building a unified and inclusive ‘One Guyana’ in a multiracial society.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place on January 26, in line with the Africa Prosperity Champions Awards and Presidential Gala Dinner, to be hosted in Accra by Ghana’s President.
President Ali is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Presidential & Business Executives Dialogue on January 27th, another event in the series of activities under the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024 platform.
On the back of this announcement, comes a letter written by Olive Cannings Sampson, the Chief Executive Officer of the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G), to the Director of Diaspora Affairs in the Office of the President of Ghana.
In this correspondence, Sampson revealed that “African Guyanese organizations have noted with dismay the decision of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) to present the “Global Africa Leadership Award” to the President of Guyana, Mohammed Irfaan Ali.”
She stated that they are collectively calling on the APN to rescind the award, citing her displeasure with the lack of consultation with the public to gain their discourse before the issuance of the award.
Attached to her communication was a file specifically outlining the reasons for the award’s withdrawal.
The document ended with the words “There is no evidence within his own Party or the Nation of Guyana and the wider Caribbean Community that he has done anything noteworthy that deserves your Accolade. It may be that your analysis is based on information garnered from a media that is with few exceptions State-controlled.”
It was signed by several prominent African Cultural associations, including the Pan African Development Foundation, Ghana Day Association, African Cultural Development Association, People of African Descent Farmers Association, 1823 East Coast Demerara Revolution Committee, International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana, Coordinating Committee for the United Nations Association of Guyana, Cuffy 250 Committee, Pan African Movement (Guyana Branch) and the First of August Movement.
Hamilton Greene, Former Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, was also a signatory to the document.