Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist August 2018 | Page 58

REMEMBRANCE
KOFI
ANNAN
REST IN
POWER
A proud son of Africa, a global statesman and a guiding force for good – Kofi Annan,
the Ghanaian legend known as ‘Africa’s foremost son’ has passed away.
“O
n 18 August 2018, the world lost a leader and
a statesman: Kofi Atta Annan. And we lost
a brother, husband, father, grandfather, and
uncle – a man of deep convictions, who was as committed to
instilling fairness, integrity, kindness, and service in each of
us, as he was to advocating peace and human rights around
the world,” the tribute reads, signed by his son, Kojo on Kofi
Annan Foundation’s website.
Kofi Annan died in Switzerland, surrounded by his family.
One thing was pretty clear: respect for the Ghanaian, who rose to
the highest rank in the United Nations, was worldwide and came
from all quarters, political groups and geographical borders.
His tenure as UN Secretary-General was unforgettable for
the several international crises on his watch and the calm he
oozed out while trying to deal with their consequences – both
for the world and a body that hardly ever managed to perform
as well as its founding fathers had wished-for.
He devised the Millennium Development Goals still in
use now and a UN philosophy called the “responsibility to
protect”, which member states pledged to abide by.
Born in the Gold Coast (now Ghana) on 8 April 1938 he
had since his birth been an icon to humans – always initiating
change and looking at the world with generous, loving and
forgiving eyes. From his early school days, he was taught,
that suffering anywhere concerns people everywhere.
Kofi Annan worked as a budget offi cer for the World
Health Organisation, before becoming Secretary-General
of the United Nations (1997-2006). He spent his entire
career with the UN, serving in several administrative posts.
Kofi Annan was elevated to undersecretary-general for
peacekeeping operations On March 1, 1993. At that time,
he was able to distinguish himself during the civil war in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly in his skillful handling of
the transition of peacekeeping operations from UN forces to
NATO forces.
He was the fi rst black African to lead the United Nations
and won a Nobel Peace prize with the organisation for “their
work for a better organised and more peaceful world”.
Kofi Annan established the Kofi Annan Foundation to put
his expertise and experience for the benefi t of peace. From
its earliest days negotiating peace in Kenya to supporting
democracy and elections with veracity in Nigeria, to changing
drug policies in West Africa and battling hunger, to helping
post-conflict societies back onto the road to peace and
empowering young leaders, his team has not had much respite.
Kofi Annan throughout his career looked towards making
sure that the world around him was a generous and happy
place to live in.
Salute to this legend, he will be missed, and his memories
and good work shall live forever!
58 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 8 • August 2018, Noida