The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres has paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor, Kofi Annan who died on Saturday after a short illness.
“Kofi Annan was a guiding force for good. It is with profound sadness that I learned of his passing. In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations… His legacy will remain a true inspiration for all of us,” he said in a statement.
He added that Mr. Annan was someone who “rose through the ranks to lead the organization [UN] into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”OhKLdqYbcvL5A22atl1vgowpzFcDy7s1″]Kofi Annan passed away on August 18, 2018, after a short illness at a Hospital in the Swiss city of Bern.
He is reported to have fallen ill on his way back from South Africa (the Mandela centenary).
He was hospitalized in Geneva and later airlifted to the capital, Bern.
A statement from the Kofi Annan Foundation said, “His wife Nane and their children Ama, Kojo and Nina were by his side during his last days.”
Guterres said he was proud of working with Kofi Annan.
“Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor. I was deeply honoured by his trust in selecting me to serve as UN High Commissioner for Refugees under his leadership. He remained someone I could always turn to for counsel and wisdom — and I know I was not alone.”
“He provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue, a place for problem-solving and a path to a better world. In these turbulent and trying times, he never stopped working to give life to the values of the United Nations Charter. His legacy will remain a true inspiration for all of us,” he added.
Other world leaders are also mourning Kofi Annan.
British Prime Minister, Theresa Mary May said Annan reformed the UN and made a huge contribution to the world.
“A great leader and reformer of the UN, he made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into. My thoughts and condolences are with his family,” she posted on Twitter.
Read António Guterres full statement below:
Statement by the Secretary-General on the passing of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan was a guiding force for good. It is with profound sadness that I learned of his passing. In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination.
Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor. I was deeply honoured by his trust in selecting me to serve as UN High Commissioner for Refugees under his leadership. He remained someone I could always turn to for counsel and wisdom — and I know I was not alone. He provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue, a place for problem-solving and a path to a better world. In these turbulent and trying times, he never stopped working to give life to the values of the United Nations Charter. His legacy will remain a true inspiration for all of us.
My heartfelt condolences to Nane Annan, their beloved family, and all who mourn the loss of this proud son of Africa who became a global champion for peace and all humanity.
New York
August 18, 2018
–
By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin
