Achievement in African leadership Joaquim Chissano, who was president of Mozambique from 1986 to 2005, was last Monday awarded the first Ibrahim prize for Achievement in African Leadership by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan in a ceremony at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria. The prize is a recognition of excellence in leadership, and is awarded to a former head of State or government who left office within the last four years. It is the biggest prize in the world, comprising $5 million over 10 years and $200,000 annually for the lifetime of the winner, in addition to $200,000 a year for 10 years which should be directed to the winner’s public interest activities and good causes. The winner was selected by an eminent Prize Committee chaired by Mr Annan and with prominent international figures as members, using the Ibrahim Index of African Governance as guide. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation was founded by Mohamed Ibrahim, one of Africa’s most successful business leaders and founder of Celtel International. Egypt and Greece A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Egyptian and Greek money markets covering securitisation and training services. Investment Minister Mahmoud Mohie Eddin believes huge Greek investment will be coming to Egypt, especially in stevedoring activities in Alexandria, Port Said and Damietta, which are expected to soar in the near future. Already 57 firms are operating in Egypt, including 31 in financial services. Athens is also investing in industry, communications, agriculture and tourism. At a $650 million investment, a huge container platform—2,300m long and 17m deep—is being established at Damietta Port by a consortium of the Egyptian Arab Contractors and the Greek Archirodon corporation. The project should create 8,000 job opportunities and will be equipped with 75 huge cranes to handle four million containers a year. Poor children Under the Japanese Government’s Assistance Scheme for Grassroots Projects, a Japanese grant of $85,286 was used to provide school desks and chairs to schools in the town of Tersa, Lower Egypt. Poor pupils in 13 public primary schools and two public secondary schools in Sinnouris, Fayoum, are also getting 1,619 school desks and chairs. Some 10,000 students are expected to benefit. African energy at Aswan Aswan is this month hosting an African conference on hydroelectric power. Forty-six African countries and international institutions will participate in the five-day conference which will discuss the best use of energy sources in the continent. At a joint capacity of 2,745 megawatts generated by the High Dam and the Aswan Reservoir power plants, Aswan is considered the largest hydroelectric power compound in Africa. Royal sarcophagus The German Archeological Institute in Cairo has restored, using the state-of-the-art technology, a sarcophagus the German archeological mission in Egypt discovered in western Luxor. The sarcophagus which was placed on display in Luxor Museum dates back to the 13th Dynasty (1785 – 1650BC) and is decorated in colourful hues and carries inscriptions showing the process of building the pyramids, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Zahi Hawass said. The German Archaeological Institute in Cairo is currently celebrating 100 years of work in Egypt. Egypt on top The 11th Pan Arab Games wrapped up last Sunday with Egypt topping the list of medal winners. The two-week event held in Cairo ended with Egypt winning 344 medals: 148 gold, 102 silver, and 94 bronze. Tunisia came in second with 67 gold medals, 37 silver and 50 bronze.