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UN-SWITZERLAND-GHANA-ANNAN-MOURNING
Ghana declares week of mourning after death of Annan
ACCRA, Aug 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo on
Saturday declared a week of mourning to pay homage to former UN chief and
Nobel laureate Kofi Annan.
Describing Annan as a “consummate” diplomat, Akufo-Addo said in a statement
that Ghana was “deeply saddened” by news of his death in Switzerland on
Saturday after a short illness.
Born in Kumasi, the capital city of Ghana’s Ashanti region, Annan became
the first black head of the United Nations.
“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” for one week from Monday, Akufo-Addo said.
“He brought considerable renown to our country by this position and through
his conduct and comportment in the global arena,” Akufo-Addo said.
“He was an ardent believer in the capacity of the Ghanaian to chart his or
her own course on to the path of progress and prosperity.”
BSS/AFP/ARS/1754 hrs