Ghana must champion the legacy of Mr Annan - Dr Antwi-Danso

An International Public Relations Expert, Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has called on the youth and African leaders to emulate the diplomacy traits of the former United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, in order to make Africa and the world a peaceful place to live.

He said Mr Annan was an honest, truthful and bold diplomat who was the sole voice that criticised the United States of America’s decision to attack Iraq, while other world leaders kept mute.

He urged Ghana and the rest of the African Continent to champion his legacy of ensuring world peace and stability, instead of violence and war.

Dr Antwi-Danso, who is also the Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, said this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Saturday as part of his tribute to the former UN Secretary-General.

He said Mr Annan was a source of great inspiration not only to Ghanaians, but to the citizens of the world and described him as an epitome of peace who led reforms at the United Nations system to ensure unilateralism and principle of the rule of law and human rights.

“The demeanour of the former UN Secretary-General, Mr Annan, is a representation of peace and preached peace throughout his life and we must champion his legacy,” Dr Antwi-Danso said.

Mr Kofi Annan passed on peacefully in the Swiss Capital, Berne, on Saturday morning after a short illness,

Dr Antwi-Danso also acknowledged the role Mr Annan played in ensuring world peace, rule of law and principles of peace as well as helping to curb diseases that plagued some African countries.



He said his death is a great loss to the world and would be remembered for the peace negotiations he brokered in turbulent war-torn nations.

He cited the roles Mr Annan played in bringing peace and stability to Kosovo, Darfur, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other nations plagued with conflicts.

Mr Kofi Annan served as the UN Secretary-General from 1997-2006 and won the Noble Peace Prize in 2001 for his humanitarian service and bringing peace and stability to the world.

He also served as UN’s Peace Envoy to Syria, Sudan and other war-torn nations after his retirement.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed the national flag to fly at half-mast from Monday, August 20 in all public places and Ghana’s missions abroad in honour of his memory for a week.

Tributes have been pouring in from all over the world since his death was announced on Saturday morning.

He was 80 years. He left behind his wife Nane and three children, Anna, Kojo and Nina.