By: Daniel Aforo
Since assuming the august office of the United Nations Organization, prominent people have described him in many ways. The former US Ambassador to the UN, Richard Holbrooke one’s said “Mr. Annan is the best Secretary General in the history of the UN”.As a Nobel laureate in 2001, the judges said “The only negotiable road to global peace and cooperation goes by way of the United Nations.(Mr. Annan has been pre-eminent in bringing new life to the organization).”
In January 1997, the world held the news that Mr. Kofi Annan, a proud son of Ghana (Africa), was the next UN Secretary General. He succeeded Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali from Egypt. This made him became the second African and the first black man to hold the post. The continent of Africa and particularly Ghana was agog after hearing such piece of news. Indeed, we were surprised because most people did not hear much of him. Fortunately, many people believed he would be able to live up to expectation since Africans whenever given the needed chance and support do achieve requisite results.
The engagement of Annan with the UN started in 1962, in which he held various challenging positions. This includes Administrative and Budget officer with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Switzerland, Geneva. After that he continued to serve with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, the UN Emergency Force (UNEF II) in Ismaila. Another positions he held was at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva.
Additionally, he rose up and became the Assistant Secretary – General for Human Resources Management and Security Coordinator for the UN system, from there he was elevated to the Assistant Secretary General for Programmes Planning, Budget and Finance, and Controller.
With all these challenging positions, he continued to work indefatigably without fear or favour but was firm and dedicated.
It was indeed not a fluke when Annan became the UN Secretary General through the kind support of the ranks of the United Nations staff. After assumption of office, Kofi Annan was faced with huge task of challenges. For example, the organization was facing bankruptcy and bureaucracy. He also pressed for new intervention, thus “The UN must place itself above the sovereign states when necessary to protect civilians from war and mass slaughter “.
He continued to appoint a panel of “wise men” who drew up a report agreeing that UN should assume a role when a state had failed in its “responsibility to protect” its citizens. After adopting this principle very courageously, experts then described it as something that might be Kofi Annan`s most important legacy at the UN. One of the aims of Annan was to bring the UN very close to the people. He then strengthened the organization’s work in the areas of development and the maintenance of international peace and security. Issues of human rights, rule of law and the universal values of equality, tolerance, and human dignity found in the UN charter was another areas he advocated for.
On the issue of politics, he brought his experience to bear on many situations such as;
a. An attempt in 1998 to gain Iraq’s compliance with the Security Council Resolutions.
b. A mission in 1998 to help promote the transitional to civilian rule in Nigeria.
c. An agreement to resolve a stalemate b between Libya and the Security Council over the 1998 Lockerbie bombing. (May the souls of those departed people rest in the bosom of God).
d. Diplomacy in 1999 to forge international response violence in East Timor.
e. The certificate of Israeli’s withdrawal from Lebanon in September 2000, and further effort since the renewed out break of violence to encourage Israeli’s and Palestinians to resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and the principle of “land for peace”.
Undoubtedly, all these and other role played by Annan paved way for his second term in June 2001,when the Security Council acting on a recommendation the General Assembly appointed him by acclamation to assume another tenure.
Unfortunately, one of the most difficult situations that almost rocked him was in 2003, when the United States of America forcefully invaded Iraq by disobeying the UN charter. In an interview with the BBC, he courageously said “From our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal”. Another problem that brought criticism to him was the issue of oil –for- food in Iraq, which involved his son Kojo Annan. Fortunately, he was cleared off for helping his son Kojo Annan, whose company he worked for won the programme contract.
There was another criticism on the issue of Bosnia and Rwanda when he was then the head of the UN Peace Keeping Operations in which the Srebrenica and Rwanda massacre took place. The education achievement of Annan started in Ghana, when he completed Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He proceeded to Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A., in 1961. From 1961 to 1962, he undertook graduate studies in economics at the Institut universitaire des hautes études internationales in Geneva.
In 1971-1972 he became Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Mr. Annan received a Master of Science degree in management.
There is a saying that with the success of every man there is always a woman. Therefore, the achievements of Kofi Annan could not be mentioned without the continues support of his beloved wife, Mrs. Nane Annan. She hails from Sweden, a Lawyer and artist by profession. Issues such as hiv/aids and education of women is at the heart of Mrs. Annan.They have three children.
Mr. Annan was born 68 years ago to Mr. Reginald Annan and Mrs. Victoria Annan.He was born a twin but lost the twin sister in 1991.
The UN has elected South Korean diplomat Mr. Ban Ki Moon, to succeed Mr. Annan on 1st of January 2007.
I say “Ayeeko” well-done for the great achievement and honour that you have brought not only to Ghana, particularly Africa but the entire world and especially the vulnerable in society.
In January 1997, the world held the news that Mr. Kofi Annan, a proud son of Ghana (Africa), was the next UN Secretary General. He succeeded Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali from Egypt. This made him became the second African and the first black man to hold the post. The continent of Africa and particularly Ghana was agog after hearing such piece of news. Indeed, we were surprised because most people did not hear much of him. Fortunately, many people believed he would be able to live up to expectation since Africans whenever given the needed chance and support do achieve requisite results.
The engagement of Annan with the UN started in 1962, in which he held various challenging positions. This includes Administrative and Budget officer with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Switzerland, Geneva. After that he continued to serve with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, the UN Emergency Force (UNEF II) in Ismaila. Another positions he held was at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva.
Additionally, he rose up and became the Assistant Secretary – General for Human Resources Management and Security Coordinator for the UN system, from there he was elevated to the Assistant Secretary General for Programmes Planning, Budget and Finance, and Controller.
With all these challenging positions, he continued to work indefatigably without fear or favour but was firm and dedicated.
It was indeed not a fluke when Annan became the UN Secretary General through the kind support of the ranks of the United Nations staff. After assumption of office, Kofi Annan was faced with huge task of challenges. For example, the organization was facing bankruptcy and bureaucracy. He also pressed for new intervention, thus “The UN must place itself above the sovereign states when necessary to protect civilians from war and mass slaughter “.
He continued to appoint a panel of “wise men” who drew up a report agreeing that UN should assume a role when a state had failed in its “responsibility to protect” its citizens. After adopting this principle very courageously, experts then described it as something that might be Kofi Annan`s most important legacy at the UN. One of the aims of Annan was to bring the UN very close to the people. He then strengthened the organization’s work in the areas of development and the maintenance of international peace and security. Issues of human rights, rule of law and the universal values of equality, tolerance, and human dignity found in the UN charter was another areas he advocated for.
On the issue of politics, he brought his experience to bear on many situations such as;
a. An attempt in 1998 to gain Iraq’s compliance with the Security Council Resolutions.
b. A mission in 1998 to help promote the transitional to civilian rule in Nigeria.
c. An agreement to resolve a stalemate b between Libya and the Security Council over the 1998 Lockerbie bombing. (May the souls of those departed people rest in the bosom of God).
d. Diplomacy in 1999 to forge international response violence in East Timor.
e. The certificate of Israeli’s withdrawal from Lebanon in September 2000, and further effort since the renewed out break of violence to encourage Israeli’s and Palestinians to resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and the principle of “land for peace”.
Undoubtedly, all these and other role played by Annan paved way for his second term in June 2001,when the Security Council acting on a recommendation the General Assembly appointed him by acclamation to assume another tenure.
Unfortunately, one of the most difficult situations that almost rocked him was in 2003, when the United States of America forcefully invaded Iraq by disobeying the UN charter. In an interview with the BBC, he courageously said “From our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal”. Another problem that brought criticism to him was the issue of oil –for- food in Iraq, which involved his son Kojo Annan. Fortunately, he was cleared off for helping his son Kojo Annan, whose company he worked for won the programme contract.
There was another criticism on the issue of Bosnia and Rwanda when he was then the head of the UN Peace Keeping Operations in which the Srebrenica and Rwanda massacre took place. The education achievement of Annan started in Ghana, when he completed Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He proceeded to Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A., in 1961. From 1961 to 1962, he undertook graduate studies in economics at the Institut universitaire des hautes études internationales in Geneva.
In 1971-1972 he became Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Mr. Annan received a Master of Science degree in management.
There is a saying that with the success of every man there is always a woman. Therefore, the achievements of Kofi Annan could not be mentioned without the continues support of his beloved wife, Mrs. Nane Annan. She hails from Sweden, a Lawyer and artist by profession. Issues such as hiv/aids and education of women is at the heart of Mrs. Annan.They have three children.
Mr. Annan was born 68 years ago to Mr. Reginald Annan and Mrs. Victoria Annan.He was born a twin but lost the twin sister in 1991.
The UN has elected South Korean diplomat Mr. Ban Ki Moon, to succeed Mr. Annan on 1st of January 2007.
I say “Ayeeko” well-done for the great achievement and honour that you have brought not only to Ghana, particularly Africa but the entire world and especially the vulnerable in society.
Source: UN, who2, BBC.
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