The East African Magazine, in its December 27, 2010 January 2, 2011 issue published its 2010 African Presidents Index – the Good; the Bad and the Ugly.
Anerod Jugnauth of Mauritius was 1st with 83.54% (A+); Ghana’s Atta Mills was 4th with72.56% (A); Jacob Zuma of South Africa – 6th (69.93%-B+); Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria – 25th (46.06%-D-); Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso – 34th (35.7%-ICU) and Faure Gnassingbe of Togo – 37th (33.38%-ICU).
Page 11 of this issue has all the rankings of the 51 Presidents in the African Presidents Index, with their percentage scores. More importantly, we have published the East African Magazine’s methodology for the Africa Leaders scorecard. For example, it explains its Nation Media Group (NMG) Index.
Below is the Magazine’s write-up on President Mills:
John Evans Atta Mills
President of the Republic of Ghana (since January 7, 2009)
Political background:-
Among the best-educated leaders on the continent, he is known in Ghana as ‘The Prof.’ He is a development economist and legal expert. Served as vice-president under Jerry Rawlings from 1996-2000. Won the 2009 presidential elections, after incumbent John Kufuor stepped down after two terms in office.
Successes this year:
Mills will proudly watch this December as the black gold starts pumping and Ghana takes its place amongst the petrol-exporting counties of the world. Large finds at the Jubilee offshore oilfield since 2007 have now put Ghana’s total reserves at 15 billion barrels, and possibly more. Mills has ushered the development of this sector along, and will likely reap political rewards once royalty money begins to flow in.
Failures this year:
President Mills struggled with the recent but sharp increase in armed robberies and roadside banditry in the country. He pledged to rid the country of such violence during his campaign two years ago.
Moment of the year:
Many were surprised when Mills was publicly derided as “wicked” and “callous” by a senior ranking member of his own party, the outspoken Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah. The former ambassador to the United States was outraged that President Mills had not given a new home to former president Jerry Rawlings, whose home burned down in a Valentine’s Day blaze.
Indices
Mo Ibrahim Index: Score = 64.6, Rank=7
Democracy Index: Score = 5.35, Rank = 94 (Hybrid regime, Presidential system, Constitutional republic)
Press Freedom Index: Score – 8.00, Rank = 26
Corruption Index: Score – 4.1, Rank – 62
Human Development Index: Score = 0.467, Rank – 130 (Low human development)
MG Index: 9/10
Final Grade: 72.56 (A)