Ghanaian and Chief Editor Dailies of the UN News, Ben Dotse Malor says although former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan was a blessing to the world, Ghana did not utilize his skills and knowledge.
“I wrote something on Facebook in May about him where I stated that I felt he was an unsung hero of Ghana. I felt we were not making greater use of his expertise,” he said on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday to eulogize the Kofi Annan who died over the weekend.
Mr. Annan, the celebrated Ghanaian diplomat, passed away in the Swiss capital of Bern, after a short illness.
Tributes have been pouring in since Saturday, August 18, 2018, when the death of Kofi Annan was reported.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Dotse Malor recounted his fondest memories of the celebrated former UN chief.
He said Kofi Annan who helped him in several ways never lost his cool even when he was faced with challenging situations.
“I will always remember that he was always available to advise and guide me during that time. So we’ve lost a great man. When he finished his term as Secretary-General, whenever he came to the UN in New York and he came for a book signing, there was a long line of people…he had become such a great gift for the world. You don’t usually leave the company and come back. And there was a long queue of people from all races and all nations who queue to see the man shake his hand and get him to sign the book. And that was the stature of the man, a great gift of Ghana, a great gift of Africa to the world and we will miss him,” he added.
The late Annan served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, from January 1997 to December 2006.
He was awarded the Peace Prize for having revitalized the UN and for having given priority to human rights.
The Nobel Committee also recognized his commitment to the struggle of containing the spread of HIV in Africa and his declared opposition to international terrorism.
He is the founder and Chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation, as well as chairman of The Elders, an international organization founded by Nelson Mandela.
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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin
