By
Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Accra, Sept.12, GNA – A high powered
delegation from the Akwamu Traditional Council on Wednesday paid a glowing
tribute to the former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Atta Annan, who
was a royal from Akwamufie of the Eastern Region.
Members of the delegation were adorned with
traditional mourning attire -red and black – while some wore war regalia, led
by Osuogyasono Yaw Boadu IV, Acting President of the Council.
They performed traditional rites to bid their
illustrious son farewell amid chanting of war songs.
Kofi Annan hails from Akwamufie, which is his
paternal ancestral home.
The mortal remains of Kofi Annan has been
lying-in-state at the Accra International Conference Centre for public viewing
to enable the people to pay their last respects.
Today, Wednesday, September 12, has been set
aside for
high profile personalities including
ambassadors, high commissioners, ministers of state, diplomats, Members of
Parliament, traditional rulers and organised groups to bid “the global
peace icon and humanitarianist” a befitting farewell.
Kofi Annan was described as a “global
peace icon and statesman” who brokered peace in turbulent countries during
his stewardship of the United Nations.
Mr Annan passed away peaceful on August 18,
2018 at a hospital in the Swiss city of Bern, after a short illnesses.
He was 80 years.
He was the Seventh UN Secretary-General from
January 1997 to December 2006, leading a number of reforms at the global body.
He successfully negotiated many peace deals in
many countries plagued with conflicts and wars including Kosovo, Lebanon,
Durfur, and Afghanistan.
In 2001, he was co-recipient of the Nobel
Peace Prize with the UN.
Mr Annan, upon retirement from active service,
served as UN Special Envoy to Syria, and also established the Kofi Annan
Foundation to pursue his vision of making the world a more peaceful place to
live.
He was survived by a wife, Nane Maria
Lagergren, and three children, Kojo, Ama and Nina.
GNA