Tributes paid to former UN chief Annan at his funeral
Ghana bid farewell to former U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, on Thursday in a state funeral attended by African leaders and international statesmen who hailed his record as an advocate for humanity and world peace.
Today Kofi Annan is laid to rest in Ghana. Many have gathered in Accra to say their farewells, but millions more are here in spirit, grieving the loss of a remarkable leader & celebrating a life well lived. Follow the livestream of the state funeral here: https://t.co/jzcEYD82au
— Kofi Annan (@KofiAnnan) September 13, 2018
Annan’s widow, Nane, paid tribute to her husband and thanked Ghana for giving the world an “extraordinary human being.”
In an address, current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed Annan, who served as the seventh U.N. Secretary-General between 1997 and 2006, as an exceptional global leader with a deep faith in the role of the United Nations as a force for good.
“As we face the headwinds of our troubled and turbulent times, let us always be inspired by the legacy of Kofi Annan,” Guterres said.
Let us always be inspired by his legacy and guided by the knowledge that he will continue speaking to us, urging us on towards the goals to which he dedicated his life and truly moved our world, @antonioguterres in Accra at Kofi Annan’s funeral. Full text: https://t.co/9mfwMwTbI8 pic.twitter.com/WQjUT8CLo7
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) September 13, 2018
Annan, a Ghanaian national and Noble laureate, died in a Swiss hospital last month at the age of 80.