THE former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan who died on August 18th would be buried today, Thursday at the military cemetery located in Accra, Capital of Ghana.
After his remains arrived Ghana on Monday, a series of events was carried out to celebrate Annan’s life. However, his final funeral, holding at Accra International Conference Centre has received a great attendance of world dignitaries to give their last respects.
Accordingly, the United Nations paid final respects to the Ghanian diplomat and Nobel Peace Laureate Annan earlier on Thursday at the state funeral as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in his remarks said Annan was an exceptional global leader and who anyone in the world could see themselves in.
Giving glowing remarks, Guetteres said, “Kofi Annan was both one-of-a-kind and one of us. He was an exceptional global leader.”
He said Annan was fond of uniting people towards a common goal for the humanity. “He had that gentle voice, that lilt that made people smile and think of music. But his words were tough and wise.
“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.”
The UN chief said Kofi Annan was courageous, speaking truth to power while subjecting himself to intense self-scrutiny.
Pointing to his time at the helm of the UN, Guterres said Annan had an almost mystical sense of the role of the UN as a force for good in a world of ills. Guteress said Annan brought UN close to the world’s people. He noted that Anan engaged new partners in protecting the environment, defending human rights and combating HIV and AIDS and other killer diseases.
“He pioneered new ideas and initiatives, including the Millennium Development Goals and the landmark reforms in his report, In Larger Freedom.”
“Kofi Annan was the UN and the United Nation was him,” he remarked.
Mr Guterres said now that he occupied the office Annan once held, he is continually inspired by his integrity, dynamism and dedication.
“To him, 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.
“He helped to case post-election tensions in Kenya, gave his all to find a political solution to the brutal war in Syria and set out a path for ensuring justice and rights for the Rohingya people of Myanmar.
Mr Guterres said the people of the world to be inspired by the legacy of Kofi Annan. “let us always be guided by the knowledge that he will continue speaking to us, urging us on towards the goals to which he dedicated his life and truly moved our world.”
Kofi Annan, born in Ghana on April 8, 1938, passed away in Switzerland on 18th August 2018 at the age of 80 years. He joined the UN in 1962 and worked in several departments of the world body before he was the secretary-general. He handed over to Ban Ki-Moon of South Korea on January 1, 2007.