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President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf delivers the Sixth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture

Audience receives Liberian president’s address warmly

July 12, 2008 – Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf stressed the importance of transparent, accountable government and the need to fight corruption in Africa, in a wide-ranging address delivered as the 6th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Kliptown, Soweto, this afternoon.

“Africa is not poor, but poorly managed,” she said, but encouraged the audience of hundreds of invited guests to be positive about the continent’s future. But, she said, there was no stopping the African Renaissance. “The new Africa is at hand!” she said.

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf at the 6th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture

The Sixth Annual Lecture address

Our revered President Mandela, our sister Graça Machel; distinguished ladies and gentlemen:

What an honor it is to be standing before His Excellency, Nelson Mandela, to deliver the 6th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture here at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto.  What an honour to follow all the many sterling persons who have given this speech before me.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Nelson Mandela on stage at the Annual Lecture

Madiba addresses audience at 6th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Kliptown, Soweto

July 12, 2008 – Mr Mandela opened the Annual Lecture event this afternoon with the following words:

President Johnson-Sirleaf, distinguished guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

We have for years remarked about people coming to such events primarily to see what an old man looks like. To see a ninety-year-old in real life must surely be an irresistible temptation!

Madiba meets with Liberian delegates at the Annual Lecture. Poet Togba-Nah Tipoteh is dressed in blue, to the left of the photo

Liberian poet presents poem to Madiba

July 12, 2008 – After the 6th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture in Kliptown, Soweto, this afternoon, Liberian poet and politician Togba-Nah Tipoteh presented Mr Nelson Mandela with a poem he had written in his honour, entitled Mandela the Madiba. It is reproduced here.

Youth parliamentarian Mashudu Mphala, at the Sixth Annual Lecture

Youth parliamentarians call for child-friendly leadership at annual lecture

July 12, 2008 – Two representatives of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund’s Youth Parliament attended the Annual Lecture today to present the parliament’s recommendations to Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Mr Nelson Mandela. 

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf visiting the Nelson Mandela Foundation

Johnson-Sirleaf views Nelson Mandela archives

July 11, 2008 – Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf visited the offices of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton today to see the work of the Foundation and meet some of its staff. 

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