By Buba Gagigo
The former president of the Republic of the Gambia, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, was posthumously awarded the ECOWAS Prize of Excellence at the 62nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja, Nigeria.
Below we reproduce the full statement that was published on his Facebook page.
“Former Gambia president, His Excellency Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara GCMG of The Gambia Posthumous has been named winner of the ECOWAS Prize of Excellence, an Award of Honour for Distinguished Personalities.
“According to a press release from ECOWAS, Sir Dawda Jawara was rewarded by the Jury for his leadership and immense contribution to the promotion and restoration of peace in the sub-region and the world.
“The full text of the release reads below:
Sir Dawda JAWARA was rewarded by the Jury for his leadership and immense contribution to the promotion and restoration of peace in the sub-region and in the world.
“It was during Sir Dawda JAWARA’s tenure as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government (1989-1990 and 1991-1992) that ECOMOG was established for peacemaking in Liberia and Sierra Leone in the 1990s.
Sir Dawda JAWARA was renowned for his humility, simplicity, and esteemed social connections; personal qualities that have earned him his leadership role in the promotion of democracy and human rights.