By Nyapapi 1
Claims circulating on social media and some online platforms that Malawi President Arthur Peter Mutharika was named Africa’s best performing president in a mid-year report by the alleged African Presidency Accountability Council (APAC) could not be independently verified.
The reports alleged that APAC had ranked President Mutharika as the continent’s top-performing leader in a governance, human rights and political stability assessment released in Addis Ababa. They further quoted an individual identified as APAC Secretary General Ahmed Sankoh Sheriff as praising the President’s leadership.
However, available evidence does not support these claims.
Independent checks have not found credible evidence that an organisation known as the African Presidency Accountability Council (APAC) exists as a recognised continental governance body that publishes presidential performance rankings.
Likewise, no official report matching the description of the alleged APAC Mid-Year Report could be located.
In addition, there is no independently verifiable evidence confirming that the quoted official, Ahmed Sankoh Sheriff, holds the position attributed to him or issued the statements circulated in the report.
The claims have also not been reported by major international or regional news organisations. Given the significance of such a continental ranking, it would ordinarily be expected that multiple reputable media outlets and official institutions would report the announcement.
Media analysts have also noted that the language used in the alleged report is highly promotional, containing phrases such as “an African star shining in Malawi” and “set a benchmark in Africa.” Such wording differs from the objective language commonly found in governance assessment reports.
Until the publisher provides verifiable evidence, including the official report, the organisation’s credentials and independent confirmation of the findings, there is no credible basis to conclude that President Arthur Peter Mutharika is ranked Africa’s best performing president in any recognised continental mid-year assessment.
