Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo Addo says the late former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan will be given a state funeral and burial.
Mr. Akufo Addo said the state funeral and burial will take place in Ghana on September 13.
He made the announcement on Friday in Accra after the family of the late Annan paid a courtesy call on him. Nana Akufo Addo says the state burial in September will be “a major event for our country”.
The Ghanaian born diplomat died in sleep at the hospital according family sources on August 18 in Berne, Switzerland. He died after a short illness at the age of 80.
“Kofi Annan was one of the most illustrious people of this generation. He was like an elderly brother,” Akufo-Addo said.
“It’s going to be a major event for our country… I expect many leaders to be present.” Mr. Annan will then be buried in Accra’s new military cemetery, the president added.
Mr. Annan served two terms as UN Secretary General from 1997 to 2006. He was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.
He also served as the UN special envoy for Syria, leading efforts to find a solution to the conflict.
Mr. Annan also played key roles on the African continent helping to resolve political conflicts in countries such as Zimbabwe.
He described his greatest achievement as the developing of the Millennium Development Goals. The goals set global targets on issues such as poverty and child mortality.
Source: Africafeeds.com
