Soldiers escort the casket of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan during Annan’s state funeral in Accra, Ghana, on Sept. 13, 2018. A number of African and world leaders joined Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo here on Thursday to bid farewell to former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who passed away in Switzerland on Aug. 18. (Xinhua/Fred Bonsu)
by Justice Lee Adoboe
ACCRA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) — A number of African and world leaders joined Ghanaian President Nana Aakufo-Addo here on Thursday to bid farewell to former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who passed away in Switzerland on Aug. 18.
Among the leaders at the state funeral organized by the government of Ghana were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire, and Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone.
In his tribute, Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo described Annan as charming, cosmopolitan, elegant, eloquent and gentle-mannered.
“He was a modest polyglot, proud African, peacemaker, quintessential diplomat. These words are still inadequate to capture the fullness of the personality of Kofi Annan, one truly iconic figure of modern times,” Akufo-Addo said.
He added that Annan had given him sensitive and deeply appreciative advice when he took office as president of the Republic of Ghana.
“Kofi Annan was an ardent believer in the capacity of the Ghanaian and African to chart his or her own course on to the path of progress and prosperity.
“He found the vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid and, indeed, an Africa Beyond Aid very appealing,” Akufo-Addo said. “Undoubtedly, he excelled in the various undertakings of his life, leaving in his trail most pleasant memories.”
“His was a life well lived,” he added.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (1st L) lays a wreath for his late colleague Kofi Annan during Annan’s state funeral in Accra, Ghana, on Sept. 13, 2018. A number of African and world leaders joined Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo here on Thursday to bid farewell to former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who passed away in Switzerland on Aug. 18. (Xinhua/Fred Bonsu)
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo (4th L, front) and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (3rd L, front) attend the state funeral of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Accra, Ghana, on Sept. 13, 2018. A number of African and world leaders joined Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo here on Thursday to bid farewell to former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who passed away in Switzerland on Aug. 18. (Xinhua/Fred Bonsu)
Nane Annan (2nd R, front), widow of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, lays a wreath during Annan’s state funeral in Accra, Ghana, on Sept. 13, 2018. A number of African and world leaders joined Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo here on Thursday to bid farewell to former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who passed away in Switzerland on Aug. 18. (Xinhua/Fred Bonsu)
Mourners poured over from the 1,600-capacity main hall of the conference center into the foyer which seats more than 500 people, as hundreds of media houses from across the globe provided coverage for the solemn occasion.
In his tribute, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that like his predecessor Dag Hammarskjold, Annan had an almost mystical sense of the role of the United Nations as a force for good in a world of ills.
“He pioneered new ideas and initiatives, including the Millennium Development Goals, and the landmark reforms in his report — In Larger Freedom. He opened the doors of the United Nations, bringing the organization closer to the world’s people,” Guterres said.
Annan was an exceptional leader whom not only the UN but the whole world would miss, Guterres added.
Nane Annan, widow of the departed former secretary-general, expressed gratitude to Ghana for giving her and the world such a caring husband and a leader.
She was proud that she and her children were joining the world to mourn the man who had put Ghana’s name so high on the world map.
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THE WORLD SAYS GOODBYE TO KOFI ANNAN
By HOW AFRICA
A state funeral is being held for former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who passed on August 18, at age 80.
His body was flown to Accra on Monday and about 6,000 people, converged at the Accra International Conference Centre to pay their last respects to the Nobel laureate.
Among the dignitaries present are current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, former Ghanaian presidents, the leaders of Ivory Coast, Liberia, Namibia and Niger, and the Crown Prince of Norway.
Guterres said of Annan
Kofi Annan was both one-of-a-kind and one of us. He was an exceptional global leader.
He was also someone virtually anyone in the world could see themselves in: those on the far reaching of poverty or by, conflict and despair who found in him an ally; the junior UN staffers following in his footsteps; the young person to whom he said until his dying breath ‘always remember, you are never too young to lead – and we are never too old to learn.
Like few in our time, Kofi Annan would bring people together, put them at ease, and unite them towards a common goal for our common humanity.
There is an old joke: The art of diplomacy is to say nothing … especially when you are speaking! Kofi Annan could say everything, sometimes without uttering a word.
It came from the dignity and the moral conviction and the humanity that was so deep in him.
He had that gentle voice, that lilt that made people smile and think of music. But his words were tough and wise.
And sometimes the graver a situation, the lower that voice would get.We would lean in to listen. And the world would lean in. And we were rewarded by his wisdom.
UNIC Accra
✔@UNICAccra
The funeral service for the late @UN SG @KofiAnnan begins in Accra #RIPKofiAnnan
UNIC Accra
✔@UNICAccra
“He said he grew up realising that change is possible. “That it’s possible peacefully. And later on…when I joined a big bureaucracy, like the UN, you discover that the greatest impediment to change is a reatraint the bureaucrats put on themselves.” Biography of @KofiAnnan
UNIC Accra
✔@UNICAccra
“Rest in peace daddy” Ama Annan Adadeji daughter of @KofiAnnan
UNIC Accra
✔@UNICAccra
“I have …lost a friend. The world has lost a standard-bearer of global cooperation. The @UN has lost an embodiment of its mission.” Says @antonioguterres of @KofiAnnan #RIPKofiAnnan
UN Spokesperson
✔@UN_Spokesperson
To Kofi Annan, indifference was the world’s worst poison.
Even after finishing his term as Secretary-General, he never stopped battling on the front-lines of diplomacy, @antonioguterres at memorial service for Kofi Annan. #RIPKofiAnnan
UN Spokesperson
✔@UN_Spokesperson
Barbara Hendricks delivers a very moving rendition of We Shall Overcome at the state funeral for former Secretary-General Kofi Annan. #RIPKofiAnnan
