The United Nations has extolled the virtues of the late Kofi Annan, its former Secretary General, describing him as a “proud son of Africa who became a global champion for peace and all humanity.”
Annan, a Ghanaian, died at the age of 80 on Saturday in an hospital in Switzerland after a brief illness.
Expressing grief over his exit, the UN on its Twitter handle, described its seventh Secretary General as “a guiding force for good.”
The current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote: “Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor.
“I was deeply honoured by his trust in selecting me to serve as UN High Commissioner for Refugees under his leadership.
“He remained someone I could always turn to for counsel and wisdom – and I know I was not alone.”
Guterres added: “He provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue, a place for problem-solving and a path to a better world.
“In these turbulent and trying times, he never stopped working to give life to the values of the United Nations Charter. His legacy will remain a true inspiration for all us.”
