AFRICA: Corrupt African leaders who have proved unresponsive to pleadings against graft are now being offered a $5 million (€4 million) reward and a stipend for life if they clean up their act.
Former South African president Nelson Mandela, British prime minister Tony Blair and former US president Bill Clinton are among those backing the private sector initiative, which seeks to promote "excellence in African leadership".
However, a number of anti-corruption lobbyists have criticised the move, saying it will enrich heads of state for merely refraining from such crimes as theft and election-rigging.
Hassen Lorgat, head of the South African branch of the global anti-corruption network Transparency International, described the award as a counter-productive "gimmick".
"It's a wrong reading of the governance challenge today," he said. "Good governance is not about one individual doing right or wrong. It's about getting African institutions to take root and germinate. It's about supporting African parliaments and civil society groups."
He added that the initiative reinforced the culture of "the big man" in Africa, which itself was a root cause of corruption.
Describing the award as a "bribe", John O'Shea, director of the Irish aid agency Goal, said it was "testament to how some of the continent's governments typically view their stint in public office as an opportunity to line their pockets with the country's coffers".
The prize is the brainchild of Sudanese-born telecoms tycoon Mo Ibrahim. A foundation in his name, which was unveiled in London last night, described the award as "the world's biggest prize" - with a financial value almost four times that of the Nobel Peace Prize.
According to the foundation, the award will consist of $5 million over 10 years and $200,000 (€160,000) annually for life thereafter.
A further $200,000 a year will be made available for good causes nominated by the winning leader, who will be chosen by a board of judges that includes former president Mary Robinson.
The foundation is also to create a "rigorous new index" to measure good governance in Africa.
Mr Ibrahim suggested the prize would offer certain heads of state a graceful exit from politics.
Unlike western leaders who are welcomed into the private sector, "our guys have no life after office", the businessman said. "Suddenly, all the mansions, cars, food, wine is withdrawn . . . That incites corruption; it incites people to cling to power.
"The prize will offer essentially good people who may be wavering the chance to opt for the good life after office."