Former President Weah, others to Receive AHA Award in South Africa

Former President George Weah is among several high-profile Africans who have been nominated for the prestigious African Heritage Awards (AHA) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Also nominated along with Weah are the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Chairman/CEO of Vista Equity Partners, Texas, United States, Robert Smith. 

Others nominated for the award include: John Dramani Mahama, former President of Ghana, Mama Rachel Ruto, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya and Founder of Mama Doing Good Origination.

The organizer, Heritage Times (HT) in a statement, on Friday, in Abuja, said the event aims to honor African greats who have impacted immensely the advancement of humanity.

The African Heritage Awards is a gathering strategically organized to celebrate and recognize outstanding global accomplishments of Africans within the continent and in the Diaspora in areas of business, politics, philanthropy, entertainment & Arts, culture, science & Technology, and Social Innovation.

Others to be honored according to the organizers are: Mr. and Mrs. Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman of International Technology Groups, Econet Global and Cassava Technologies, Adebayo Ogunlesi, Chairman/Managing Partner, Global Infrastructure Partners, Professor Thulisile Nomkhosi Madonsela, Founder of the Thuli Madonsela Foundation, Victoire Tomegah Dogbe, Prime Minister of Togo, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Managing Director of the Rose of Sharon Group and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited, Othman Benjelloun, Co-chair of BMCE Bank Foundation and Madam Graca Machel, Founder of Graca Machel Trust and many others.

According to the organizers, it is expected that this year’s edition will be more remarkable and historic, as it will be chaired by His Excellency, Sir Seretse Khama Ian Khama, former President of Botswana, and will be attended by former Heads of State and Captains of Industries across the African continent.

The recognition and awards, according to the organizers, have become imperative to sustainably foster the African culture of excellence, promote Afrocentrism, and create an ecosystem that will further retell the true African story towards the advancement of the continent’s full potential.

This year, the organizers are moving the African Heritage Awards to the southern divide of Africa, the home of Kwaito music and the cacophonous sounds of Amapiano, to specially honor distinguished African personalities, who have dignified themselves through remarkable achievements across the globe, whilst creating sustainable impact to uplift others.

Besides conferring international prestige and recognition on these deserving Africans, the Awards will focus on the critical importance of culture and leadership, which, according to the organizers, lies at the core of any shared advancement of socio-economic and political development in Africa.

The Awards ceremony is also primed to cast a spotlight on individuals who, under challenging circumstances, have empowered Africans and impacted their sphere of influence to pave the way for sustainable and equitable development.

Taking cognizance of the reality that Africa is a root to a plethora of people all over the world who continue to thrive and evolve despite the limitations and challenges stemming from stereotypes, the organizers of the AHA strongly affirm that the event will contribute immensely to changing the global perception of Africans, and also spur the needed critical mass for the attainment of cultural evolution and revolution in sustainable development.