Critics of the Ibrahim Prize argue that it makes Africa look bad, because in four out of seven years it has not been awarded to anyone. It has also been argued that leaders should not have to be “bribed” into being good.
有批评认为这个奖令非洲蒙羞，因为自该奖设立7年以来已经有4年出现的得奖者空缺。另一种说法认为领导人不应在这些巨奖的“贿赂”下去有所作为。不管这个奖存不存在，开明者行仁政，暴君则祸国殃民，不会有任何改变。