Kofi Annan Returns Home On Tuesday

....urged to run for president
ACCRA - Former United Nations(UN) Secretary General, Kofi Annan, is due to return to home on Tuesday, January 23 night where he is being urged to contest the country’s presidential election in 2008.

An official statement asked the public to come to the airport to give Annan a hero’s welcome. Annan completed his two five- year terms on December 31.

According to the statement, President Kufuor and Vice President Aliu Mahama, ministers of state, members of the diplomatic corps, leaders of political parties and traditional leaders would be at the airport to welcome the former UN boss.

Annan, 68, who retired from the top position of the world body at the end of last year, is reported to have turned down the advances of the New Life Ghana Movement urging his candidacy.

The movement set up the website draftkofiannan2008.com to campaign for his candidacy.

Kofi Annan, the website, which is not endorsed by Annan, said “is the best qualified person to lead the country “at this crucial time.”

Annan, who was the second African to head the UN after Egyptian Boutros Boutros Ghali, won several honours including the Nobel Peace Prize and he was also the first UN Secretary General to rise to the top through the UN system.

The draftkofiannan2008.com website said its team was calling on Annan “to come and lead us as a nation” and contest the election as an independent candidate.

“We find it necessary that Mr. Annan take up this challenge as an independent presidential candidate so that he can concentrate on building the administrative and managerial competences of our ministries and departments while oversight is provided by political activity, parliament, the judiciary, media, and society at large, without the dangers of a one-party state,” the website said.

Mr Annan became only the second African, after Boutrous Boutrous Ghali to be appointed head of the UN in 1996.

He was also the only Secretary-General who rose through the UN system to become its head