Akufo Addo mourns Kofi Annan

President Akufo Addo has expressed his deepest condolence to the family of the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan whose sad death was reported in the early hours of Sunday August 18 218.

The 2001 Nobel Peace Winner died after taking in a short ailment and was away in Switzerland on treatment.

Ina statement, President Akufo Addo has called on the wife of the deceased founder of the Kofi Annan Foundation to accept the condolences he is extending on behalf of himself, the First Lady, the ruling government and the generality of the people of Ghana.

The statement read, "I extend, on behalf of the entire Ghanaian nation, our sincere, heartfelt condolences to his beloved widow, Nane Maria, and to his devoted children, Ama, Kojo and Nina, on this great loss. I am, however, comforted by the information, after speaking to Nane Maria, that he died peacefully in his sleep".

Kpfi AnnAan served as the seventh UN Secretary General from January 1997 until he retired in December 2006.

He was 80 years.

Below is the full statement 

*PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO MOURNS KOFI ANNAN*

The Government and people of Ghana, First Lady Rebecca and I are deeply saddened by the news of the death, in Berne, Switzerland, of one of our greatest compatriots, Mr. Kofi Annan.

I extend, on behalf of the entire Ghanaian nation, our sincere, heartfelt condolences to his beloved widow, Nane Maria, and to his devoted children, Ama, Kojo and Nina, on this great loss. I am, however, comforted by the information, after speaking to Nane Maria, that he died peacefully in his sleep.

Consummate international diplomat and highly respected former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan was the first from sub-Saharan Africa to occupy this exalted position. He brought considerable renown to our country by this position and through his conduct and comportment in the global arena. He was an ardent believer in the capacity of the Ghanaian to chart his or her own course onto the path of progress and prosperity. Undoubtedly, he excelled in the various undertakings of his life, leaving in his trail most pleasant memories. His was a life well-lived.

I have directed that, in his honour, Ghana’s national flag will fly at half-mast across the country and in all of Ghana’s diplomatic missions across the world, from Monday, 20th August, 2018, for one week.

Rest in perfect peace, Kofi. You have earned it. God bless.

*……signed……*

*Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo*

*President of the Republic*

ghanaguardian.com