Kofi Annan legacy deserve Celebration – Oppong Nkrumah

Minister of Information designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has called on Ghanaians to emulate, celebrate and honour the life lived by the late Ghanaian diplomat, Dr Kofi Annan.

The minister in an interview on Starr FM said “The big thing on all of our minds is to celebrate his exemplary service, to emulate the values he stood for and to explore ways by which we can honour him for his service.”

“We are to spend some time drawing out lessons of his life and service, drawing out the values that he stood for – his humility, forthrightness, firmness and genuineness. For the many years that he lived and worked on the global scene, he never departed from his Ghanaians”.

”These are values that we have to find ways of reminding ourselves and educate the younger generations of, so that many more people will live lives worthy of emulation like he has done. For many who are here today, it’s a time to help remind all of us of the values that he stood for, so that we can emulate those values and do our work with the kind of diligence and respect for all as he did on the global landscape” he added.

Oppong Nkrumah cited Dr Kofi Annan’s presence on the global stage as his significant legacy. He applauded his excellence and decorum displayed in his career, like working to reform the United Nations, working to improve governance and democracy in Africa, working to stimulate peace and investing in young people.

The minister admitted that the death of the former UN Secretary-General, Dr Kofi Annan came as a shock to the government, as the nation has lost a prominent and resourceful citizen.

The minister-designate, revealed that the government will on Wednesday, 22nd August 2018, open a book of condolence for the late Ghanaian diplomat, Dr Kofi Annan. The book of condolence will be opened at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) and in Ghana’s missions abroad.

The book of condolence will see heads of states, world leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, ministers, state officials, media, relatives, loved ones and the general public record their condolences for the former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr.Kofi Annan.

BIOGRAPHY OF KOFI ANNAN

Kofi Atta Annan, a diplomat from the West African country of Ghana, was the first to emerge from the ranks of United Nations (UN) staff to serve as the Secretary-General of the UN.

He served as the seventh UN Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006. The UN and Annan were jointly awarded the The Nobel Peace Prize 2001 “for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world”.

While he was the Secretary-General, he prioritized the establishment of a comprehensive reforms programme aimed at revitalizing the UN. UN had traditionally been working in the areas of development and he worked for further strengthening this work.

A passionate advocate of human rights, and a strong believer in the universal values of equality, tolerance and human dignity, Annan wanted to bring the UN closer to the people by reaching out to new partners, and thereby restore public confidence in the organization.

He had a major part to play in the establishment of two new intergovernmental bodies: the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council in 2005. He also played a pivotal role in the creation of the Global Funds to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

He strongly opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq and Iran’s nuclear programme. After his retirement from the UN in 2006, he returned to Ghana where he was involved with a number of African as well as global organizations.