By 
Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed emerges #AfricanLeaderofTheYear 2018
‘…acquitted himself most commendably in critical areas of governance reform, visionary ‘leadership and a demonstrable commitment to pan-African integration and cooperation.’
By Timi Obafemi
Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dr. Abiy Ahmed has emerged as the #AfricanLeaderofTheYear 2018.
From an initially crowded field of 55 African heads of states, he was chosen at the close of the 3-track voting and assessment process over and above his closest contenders, President Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
The 42 year-old who became Prime Minister of the Horn of Africa nation only eight months ago, has in the estimation of the African voting public and the board of editors at The Difference Newspaper, acquitted himself most commendably in critical areas of governance reform, visionary leadership and a demonstrable commitment to pan-African integration and cooperation.
Among others, some of the specific actions undertaken by the Prime Minister in the year under reference and which placed him in good stead in the eyes of voters and the board of The Difference Newspaper include taking practical steps to bring closure to a two-decade old conflict with neighbouring Eritrea, the overhaul of the cabinet to provide for 50 per cent representation for women and the massive release of political prisoners and their seamless reintegration into national political life.
The 2017 edition of the annual #AfricanLeaderoftheYear award series was won by President John Magufuli of Tanzania.
A pan-African news media and events management platform that was established in 2006 and has its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, The Difference is also the organiser of the monthly #FocusNationAfrica summits that celebrate the national days of respective African nations, as well as being the convener of the Africa Day Colloquium which holds on May 25th every year.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia
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