Swiss-based NGO, Africa Link Organization will honor President John Kufuor of Ghana and Mr. Raila Odinga of Kenya as Champions of Democracy and Transparency at a ceremony to be held in Geneva Switzerland on December 2.

Other recipients of the Africa Link Solidarity Awards include Mrs. Nozipho January-Bardill, former South African Ambassador to Switzerland and Mr. Martin Graf, the mayor of Illunia/Effretikon in the Zurich Canton of Switzerland who received the honors of African Envoy of Excellence and Friend of Africa respectively.

Mr. Joseph Ayalogu, Nigeria's Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Mr. Roland Nugor, the Chief Executive of Awale GmbH, a Swiss company and Dr. Konji Sebati, current South African Envoy are recognized in the Africa Link Support Group category.

The president of Africa Link Organization, Mr. Johnson Oduwaiye said that the African Union Ambassador and Permanent Observer to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Madame Rachida Masri will chair the occasion. He further announced that Dr. Olusola Saraki, Nigeria's former senate leader who holds the traditional title of Waziri of Ilorin is to be special guest of honor. He will speak on the topic: "Nigeria's Democratic Agenda: Hope for a bright future or a recipe for another African disaster?"

Mr. Oduwaiye said the Solidarity Awards have been created to encourage the emergence of a more positive perspective on Africa. The inaugural awards are in four categories, namely, Champions of Democracy and Transparency, African Envoys of Excellence, Friends of Africa and Africa Link support Group. He said that the organization intends to make the awards an annual event and indicated that more categories to recognize positive contributions to developments in the continent in the public and private sectors will be added as resources permit.

On the rationale for the awards and the nominees, Mr. Oduwaiye explained that Mr. Kufuor was the first head of state to submit himself and his government to scrutiny by the African Peer Review Mechanism of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, NEPAD. Mr. Odinga on his part had shown commitment and consistency in identifying with the ordinary citizens and struggling for their rights whether in power or out of power. Ambassador January-Bardill had played a key role in mobilizing and galvanizing action among African envoys in Switzerland towards the reinstatement of the celebration of Africa Day in the country. Mr. Graf, through the mobilization of his constituency to support projects in Africa, has contributed in making a positive difference in the lives of ordinary people in some remote areas of the continent.

Ambassadors Sebati and Ayalogu as well as Mr. Roland Nugor, have shown consistency in supporting Africa Link organization in providing a clear, mature, effective and sustained African voice in Switzerland.

Those honored will receive certificates of award with citations on their contributions. Currently, there is no monetary value attached to the Africa Link Solidarity awards.