Kofi Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who became internationally famous through his work with the United Nations.
He served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006, becoming the first black African to hold this position.
Annan’s tenure was marked by efforts to reform the United Nations, promote human rights and address global challenges such as poverty, conflict and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
His commitment to peace and multilateralism earned him and the United Nations the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
Annan’s legacy goes beyond his time at the United Nations, as he advocated for global cooperation and sustainable development through a variety of platforms and initiatives.
File
- Full name: Kofi Atta Annan
- Date of birth: April 8, 1938
- Age: Will be 86 years old (as of 2024)
- Gender: Male
- Birthplace: Kumasi, Gold Coast (now Ghana)
- Nationality: Ghana
- Occupation: Diplomat
- Parents: Henry Reginald Annan, Victoria Annan
- Siblings: Efua Atta Annan (twin sister)
- Spouse: Titi Alakija (married 1965; divorced 1983), Nane Lagergren (married 1984)
- Children: Kojo Annan, Ama Annan
- Relationship status: Married to Nane Lagergren at the time of his death
- Religion: Methodist
- Ethnicity: Akan
- Net worth: 5 million USD
Early life and education
Kofi Annan will be 86 years old as of 2024. He was born on April 8, 1938 in Kumasi, what was then the Gold Coast (now Ghana).
Henry Reginald Annan’s father was a provincial governor and hereditary chief. He had a twin sister, Efua Atta Annan, who died in 1991.
Annan attended the elite Mfantsipim School, a Methodist boarding school in Cape Coast. He then studied economics at Kumasi College of Science and Technology (now Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology).
Annan continued his studies in the United States, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1961.
He then pursued graduate studies in economics at the Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.
In 1972, he received a Master of Science in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Personal life
Kofi Annan has been married twice. His first marriage was to Titi Alakija, a Nigerian woman, in 1965. They had two children, Kojo and Ama. The couple divorced in 1983.
In 1984, Annan married Nane Lagergren, a Swedish lawyer and artist. Nane has a daughter, Nina Cronstedt, from a previous marriage.
Annan was known for his quiet demeanor and diplomatic skills, which served him well throughout his career.
Career
Kofi Annan’s career at the United Nations began in 1962 when he joined the World Health Organization in Geneva.
He held various positions within the United Nations system, including roles in budget and finance, peacekeeping operations and refugee affairs.
In 1993, he was appointed Deputy Secretary-General in charge of peacekeeping operations. He oversaw United Nations peacekeeping missions in several conflict zones, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia and Rwanda.
In 1996, he was appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations, a position he held for two terms from 1997 to 2006.
During his tenure, Annan focused on reforming the United Nations, promoting human rights and addressing global challenges such as poverty, conflict and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
After leaving the United Nations, Annan continued to participate in international affairs. He founded the Kofi Annan Foundation, which aims to promote sustainable development, global peace and security.
He also served as president of The Elders, a group of independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights.
prize
- Nobel Peace Prize (2001)
- Order of the Star of Ghana
- Grand Cross of the Légion d’honneur (France)
- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (United Kingdom)
- Many honorary degrees from universities around the world
Net worth
Kofi Annan’s net worth at the time of his death was $5 million.
He amassed considerable wealth through his long and distinguished career at the United Nations and his subsequent involvement in various organizations and initiatives.
Death
Kofi Annan died on August 18, 2018, at the age of 80, in Bern, Switzerland, after a short illness.
People around the world mourned his death and recognized his contributions to peace and international cooperation.
Argumentative
Despite his widespread acclaim, Kofi Annan’s tenure as United Nations Secretary-General was not without controversy.
One of the most important controversies concerns the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program in Iraq. The program, aimed at providing humanitarian relief to sanctions-hit Iraqis, has been dogged by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
An independent investigation found that Annan’s son, Kojo, had benefited from the scheme and that Annan himself had not done enough to investigate the allegations.
Another controversy arose from the United Nations’ handling of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Annan, who was then head of UN peacekeeping operations, was criticized for cannot prevent genocide.
A UN report later admitted that the UN had made serious errors and had not deployed enough troops to protect civilians.
Annan also faced criticism for his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the war in Iraq. Some accused him of being too sympathetic to the Palestinians, while others criticized him for not doing enough to stop the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
Despite these controversies, Annan remains a respected figure in international affairs. He was widely praised for reforming the United Nations, promoting human rights and addressing global challenges. His legacy as a champion of peace and multilateralism continues to inspire people around the world.
Social Media
Book
- Intervention: Life in War and Peace (2012)
