Kofi Atta Annan (1938–2018) was a Ghanaian international civil servant, who served as the secretary-general of the United Nations (U.N.) 1997–2006. He was the co-recipient, with the United Nations, of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
Born into an educated family of tribal chiefs, Annan studied economics at the Kumasi College of Science and Technology. Winning a Ford Foundation scholarship, he finished his studies in the USA in 1961 and then undertook further study in Geneva.
Annan joined the U.N. in 1962 as a budget officer for the World Health Organization. He remained at the U.N. for the rest of his career, aside from two years in Ghana developing tourism.
In 1997, when the U.S. vetoed a second term of office for Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Annan was appointed U.N. Secretary-General. He became the first black African to head that organization.
In February 1998, Annan’s intervention helped to prevent renewed war between the U.S. and Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. He supported the U.S. in its war on terrorism in 2001 but later broke with the U.S. over the 2003 Iraq War.
After retiring from the U.N. in 2006, Annan continued to work for global peace and human rights. He published an autobiography, Interventions: A Life in War and Peace (2012.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Kofi Annan
To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.
—Kofi Annan
Topics: Choices
There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.
—Kofi Annan
Topics: Women
Globalization is a fact of life. But I believe we have underestimated its fragility.
—Kofi Annan
Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance.
—Kofi Annan
Topics: Challenges
Fierce national competition over water resources has prompted fears that water issues contain the seeds of violent conflict
—Kofi Annan
Topics: Water
Without a dream you’ll not get anywhere.
—Kofi Annan
Topics: Dreams
More countries have understood that women’s equality is a prerequisite for development.
—Kofi Annan
Topics: Equality
It has been said that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity.
—Kofi Annan
We need to promote greater tolerance and understanding among the peoples of the world. Nothing can be more dangerous to our efforts to build peace and development than a world divided along religious, ethnic or cultural lines. In each nation, and among all nations, we must work to promote unity based on our shared humanity.
—Kofi Annan
Topics: Tolerance
We must ensure that the global market is embedded in broadly shared values and practices that reflect global social needs, and that all the world’s people share the benefits of globalization.
—Kofi Annan
The spread of markets outpaces the ability of societies and their political systems to adjust to them, let alone to guide the course they take.
—Kofi Annan
Topics: Ability
In the 21st century, I believe the mission of the United Nations will be defined by a new, more profound awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every human life, regardless of race or religion.
—Kofi Annan
Topics: Awareness
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