The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres has eulogized his predecessor and late former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan describing him as the embodiment of the United Nation.
According to him, he’s continuously inspired by Kofi Annan’s integrity, dynamism and dedication to the service of humanity.
The funeral service of the global icon and Nobel peace laureate, who died on August 8 at the age of 80 in Switzerland after a short illness, is underway at the Accra International Conference Centre .
Reading a tribute in Kofi Annan’s memory, Mr Antonio Guterres noted that to Kofi Annan indifference was the world’s worst poison, adding that even after the latter finished his term as the UN Secretary General, he never stopped battling on the front line of diplomacy.
He urged the world to be inspired by the legacies of Kofi Annan in order to make the world a better place to live in.
“Dear friends, let us continue to heed that voice of grace, reason, the voice of morality and solidarity. Our world needs it more now than ever as we face troubled and turbulent times, let us always be inspired by the legacies of Kofi Annan and be guided by the knowledge that he’ll continue speaking to us, urging us on to the goals which he dedicated his life and truly moved our world,” Mr Antonio Guterres said.
Mr Kofi Annan who’ll be buried today, September 13, 2018, at the new Military Cemetery has his state funeral being attended by world leaders, past and present, traditional authorities among others.
World Leaders including Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Alassane Dramane Ouattara of Ivory Coast, George Weah of Liberia, Hage Geingob of Namibia, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, a former head of state of Germany, Heads of State of Switzerland and Finland are attending the funeral of Mr Kofi Annan.
Annan led the UN from 1997 to 2006 as the first black African to occupy the secretary general position. He died on August 18 aged 80 at his home in Switzerland after a short illness.
