with Uganda. Annan and his team got both leaders to agree to a power-sharing
coalition that ended the bloodshed. One Twitter user wrote on hearing of his death
Saturday: "Were it not for you, our country would have been brought down to ashes."
He mediated a settlement of a dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria over the
Bakassi peninsula. “He stood by The Gambian people during difficult times in 2016/17,”
Gambian president Adama Barrow said on twitter.
To conclude, there is one main difference between changemakers and the rest of the
world. Most people desire change; many know what they would like to see different in
the world, and some even know how it could be done best. But Kofi Annan belonged
to that higher class of people who act to see their change happen. His aristocratic style,
cool-tempered elegance and political savvy helped guide his ascent to become the first
black African UN secretary-general, and the first hired from within.
All the African Changemaker Community is grief-stricken over Annan’s death. He will
be remembered not only as a Pan-Africanist but also a leader and extraordinaire
diplomat genuinely committed to serve the world. He was humanity’s best example of
human decency. In a world now filled with leaders who are anything but that, our loss,
the world’s loss becomes even more painful. Taking the leadership rope today as the
young Generation of Africa, we see difficult days ahead. However, we shall take lessons
from history, inspiration from a Pan Africanist like Kofi Annan and try to do a better job.
From African Changemakers to the people of Ghana, the global community and most
importantly the family of Kofi Annan, we have no gift better than our promise that we
will carry the leadership of being an important player for Africa development.
Rest in peace, Kofi Anna, Africa’s foremost son.
REBRANDING AFRICA THROUGH RESEARCH. CONTINUES HERE............
Conclusion
Africa should be in the news not just for the sad and familiar reasons of conflict and
suffering. Africa is in the fashion arena, with the quality of its handwork, artistic
creativity and its potential for economic growth bringing Africa literally in vogue.
Presenting a positive image of the continent means focusing world attention on an
area that has been hitherto excluded. This can’t be achieved without research
conducted in Africa by Africans. We need to make science and innovation part of the
public discourse in Africa. Few stakeholders have the remit to think about the long-
term investments and policies needed to build a thriving African science and
technology sector that responds to the needs of the African people.