South Africa has slipped down one place on the index of all 54 African countries to seven position.

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The index set up by Sudanese telecoms billionaire Mo Ibrahim makes depressing reading this year – particularly the measure of sustainable economic opportunity.

It shows a paltry two percent growth since 2008, even though some countries have  managed GDP growth of 40 percent in the same period.

Four of the ten countries with the highest GDP are below the African average score for sustainable economic growth.

It also show that progress in governance lags behind demographic growth and youth expectations.

Ibrahim himself says the lost opportunity of the past decade is deeply concerning.  

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Phambaha’s only the fourthe leader to win the prize which is the world’s most valuable individual award in its nine years of existence.

President Hifikepunya Pohamba wins five million dollars and 200 000 dollars a year for life from the prize established by Sudanese philanthropist and telecoms billionaire Mo Ibrahim.

Pohamba’s office says the money will go to his foundation helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursue higher education.

Former OAU secretary general Salim Ahmed Salim, who chairs the committee that awarded the prize, says under Pohamba Namibia’s cemented its reputation as a well-governed, stable and inclusive democracy with strong media freedom and respect for human rights.

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The award’s gone unclaimed for five years because Sudanese philanthropist and telecoms billionaire Mo Ibrahim could not identify a deserving candidate.

Former liberation fighter Hifikepunya Pohamba succeeed Namibia’s independence president Sam Nujoma and served two terms.

He did not contest the poll last year where Hage Geingob was elected Namibia’s third president.

The Mo Ibrahim prize prize is worth $5m to Pohamba with a further $200 000 a year for life.

It was established in 2006 and Mozambican leader Joaquim Chissano was it’s first laureate.

Since then Botswana’s former president Festus Mogae and his counterpart from Cape Verde Pedro Pires are the only other winners.

Nelson Mandela was made an honorary laureate.

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Sudanese-born telecommunications magnate Mo Ibrahim is in Washington for the US Africa summit.

Mo Ibrahim says he was amazed to be boarding a plane with businessmen bound for Washington to tell their American counterparts there are good opportunities in Africa.

African capitals are filled with Chinese, Asian and Brazilian business people who did not have to be told this.

He asks why it’s necessary to inform misinformed US businessmen.

They invented Google. They should use it.

Ibrahim says he’s uncomfortable with the hype about Africa.

With diverse conditions across the continent’s 54 countries, it is dangerous to overstate Africa’s economic emergence.

Having made billions from the sale of his telecommunications firm, Ibrahim has created a foundation rewarding African leaders for good governance.

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