Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan - Former Un Secretary General, Timeline and Childhood

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Kofi Annan's Personal Details

Kofi Annan was the seventh secretary general of the United Nations

InformationDetail
BirthdayApril 8, 1938
Died onAugust 18, 2018
NationalityGhanaian
FamousNobel Peace Prize, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Leaders, Diplomats, Former Un Secretary General
SpousesNane Maria Annan (m. 1984), Titi Alakija (m. 1965–1970)
SiblingsEfua Ataa
Known asKofi Atta Annan
ChildrensAma Annan, Kojo Annan, Nina Cronstedt de Groot
Universities
  • Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Macalester College
  • MIT Sloan School of Management
  • Mfantsipim School
  • Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
  • Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Notable Alumnis
  • Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT)
Birth PlaceComassie, Gold Coast
ReligionProtestantism
Height175
GenderMale
FatherHenry Reginald Annan
MotherVictoria Annan
Net Worth$5 Million as of May 15,2017
Sun SignAries
Born inComassie, Gold Coast
Famous asFormer UN Secretary General
Died at Age80

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Kofi Annan's photo

Who is Kofi Annan?

Kofi Atta Annan, a diplomat from the West African country of Ghana, was the first to emerge from the ranks of United Nations (UN) staff to serve as the Secretary-General of the UN. He served as the seventh UN Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006. The UN and Annan were jointly awarded the The Nobel Peace Prize 2001 "for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world". While he was the Secretary-General, he prioritized the establishment of a comprehensive reforms programme aimed at revitalizing the UN. UN had traditionally been working in the areas of development and he worked for further strengthening this work. A passionate advocate of human rights, and a strong believer in the universal values of equality, tolerance and human dignity, Annan wanted to bring the UN closer to the people by reaching out to new partners, and thereby restore public confidence in the organization. He had a major part to play in the establishment of two new intergovernmental bodies: the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council in 2005. He also played a pivotal role in the creation of the Global Funds to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. He strongly opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq and Iran's nuclear programme. After his retirement from the UN in 2006, he returned to Ghana where he was involved with a number of African as well as global organizations.

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Childhood & Early Life

Kofi Atta Annan and his twin sister, Efua Atta, were born to Victoria and Henry Reginald Annan in Kumasi, Ghana. Henry Reginald used to work as an export manager for the Lever Brothers cocoa company.

Both of his grandfathers and his uncle were tribal chiefs and he was raised in one of Ghana's aristocratic families.

He attended the elite Mfantsipim School, a Methodist boarding school from 1954 to 1957. It was here that he learnt "that suffering anywhere concerns people everywhere."

Ghana became the first British African colony to gain independence in 1957, the same year when Annan graduated from the Mfantsipim School. As a member of the generation that witnessed their country’s independence struggle and subsequent victory, he grew up thinking that everything was possible.

He joined the Kumasi College of Science and Technology in 1958 for a degree in economics. Receiving a Ford foundation grant enabled him to complete his undergraduate studies in economics at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1961.

He then undertook graduate studies in economics at the Institut universitaire des hautes �tudes internationales in Geneva, Switzerland from 1961 to 1962.

Career

Kofi Annan’s career with the UN began in 1962 when he joined as an administrative and budget officer with the World Health Organization in Geneva.

He took a short break from being an international civil servant when he worked as the director of tourism in Ghana from 1974 to 1976.

In the 1980s, Annan returned to work for the UN as an Assistant Secretary-General in three consecutive positions: Human resources management and security coordinator (1987-1990); programme planning, budget and finance, and controller (1990-1992); and peacekeeping operations (1993-1996).

Before becoming the Secretary-General, he also served as Under-Secretary-General.

His first five-year term as the UN Secretary-General began on 1 January 1997 when he replaced outgoing secretary-general Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt.

In 1998, he appointed a lady, Louise Frechette of Canada, as the first deputy secretary-general in an attempt to bring about more gender equality within the UN system.

His second term as Secretary-General began on 1 January 2002 when his tenure was renewed. His reappointment to the post was an indication of his immense popularity.

After leaving the UN, he returned to Ghana where he became actively involved with a number of organizations like the Global Humanitarian Forum, The Elders, United Nations Foundation, One Young World, etc.

In February 2012, Annan was appointed as the joint U.N.-Arab League special envoy to Syria in an attempt to deal with the ongoing conflicts there. He resigned in August 2012 owing to lack of any progress due to intransigence on the part of all the concerned parties.

Major works

As the Secretary-General of the UN, he launched the “Global Compact” campaign in 1999, which is the world’s biggest initiative for promoting corporate social responsibility.

Annan viewed the HIV/AIDS pandemic as his “personal priority”, and in April 2001, issued a “Call to Action”, proposing the establishment of a Global AIDS and Health Fund to help developing countries deal with the crisis.

After the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US, he played a crucial role in stimulating the General Assembly and the Security Council to take actions for combating terrorism.

In 2005, he presented a progress report, ‘In Larger Freedom’, to the UN General Assembly in which he recommended a host of reforms to renew and strengthen the UN organization.

Awards & Achievements

Annan and the UN were jointly awarded The Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for “their work for a better organized and more peaceful world."

Personal Life & Legacy

Annan married a Nigerian woman Titi Alakija in 1965, but they later separated in the 1970s, and divorced in 1983. They have two children, Ama and Kojo, together. He later got married to Nane Lagergren, a Swedish lawyer. She has a daughter from a previous marriage.

Kofi Annan died on August 18, 2018, in Bern, Switzerland. He was 80.

Trivia

The name ‘Kofi’ literally means “a boy born on a Friday.”

He was fluent in many languages including English, French, Akan and other African languages.

His memoir “Interventions: A Life in War and Peace”, written with Nader Mousavizadeh was published in 2012.

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Kofi Annan's awards

YearNameAward

Other

2002James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service
2006Award of the European Academy of Informatization
2006International Achievement Award
2006Olof Palme Prize
2007special award
2007People in Europe Award
2007MacArthur Award for International Justice
2007North-South Prize
2008Peace of Westphalia Prize
2008Harvard University Honors Prize
2008Gottlieb Duttweiler Prize
2008Peace of Westphalia Prize
2008Open Society Award
2011Gothenburg Award
2012Confucius Peace Prize
02000 - Kora All Africa Music Awards
0 2001 - Nobel Peace Prize
0 2002 - Profiles in Courage Award

Kofi Annan biography timelines

  • // 1954 To 1957
    He attended the elite Mfantsipim School, a Methodist boarding school from 1954 to 1957. It was here that he learnt "that suffering anywhere concerns people everywhere."
  • // 1958
    He joined the Kumasi College of Science and Technology in 1958 for a degree in economics. Receiving a Ford foundation grant enabled him to complete his undergraduate studies in economics at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1961.
  • // 1961 To 1962
    He then undertook graduate studies in economics at the Institut universitaire des hautes �tudes internationales in Geneva, Switzerland from 1961 to 1962.
  • // 1962
    Kofi Annan’s career with the UN began in 1962 when he joined as an administrative and budget officer with the World Health Organization in Geneva.
  • // 1974 To 1976
    He took a short break from being an international civil servant when he worked as the director of tourism in Ghana from 1974 to 1976.
  • // 1st Jan 1997
    His first five-year term as the UN Secretary-General began on 1 January 1997 when he replaced outgoing secretary-general Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt.
  • // 1999
    As the Secretary-General of the UN, he launched the “Global Compact” campaign in 1999, which is the world’s biggest initiative for promoting corporate social responsibility.
  • // 2001
    Annan and the UN were jointly awarded The Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for “their work for a better organized and more peaceful world."
  • // Apr 2001
    Annan viewed the HIV/AIDS pandemic as his “personal priority”, and in April 2001, issued a “Call to Action”, proposing the establishment of a Global AIDS and Health Fund to help developing countries deal with the crisis.
  • // 1st Jan 2002
    His second term as Secretary-General began on 1 January 2002 when his tenure was renewed. His reappointment to the post was an indication of his immense popularity.
  • // 2005
    In 2005, he presented a progress report, ‘In Larger Freedom’, to the UN General Assembly in which he recommended a host of reforms to renew and strengthen the UN organization.
  • // 2012
    In February 2012, Annan was appointed as the joint U.N.-Arab League special envoy to Syria in an attempt to deal with the ongoing conflicts there. He resigned in August 2012 owing to lack of any progress due to intransigence on the part of all the concerned parties.
  • // 2012
    His memoir “Interventions: A Life in War and Peace”, written with Nader Mousavizadeh was published in 2012.

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Kofi Annan's FAQ

  • What is Kofi Annan birthday?

    Kofi Annan was born at 1938-04-08

  • When was Kofi Annan died?

    Kofi Annan was died at 2018-08-18

  • Where was Kofi Annan died?

    Kofi Annan was died in Bern, Switzerland

  • Which age was Kofi Annan died?

    Kofi Annan was died at age 80

  • Where is Kofi Annan's birth place?

    Kofi Annan was born in Comassie, Gold Coast

  • What is Kofi Annan nationalities?

    Kofi Annan's nationalities is Ghanaian

  • Who is Kofi Annan spouses?

    Kofi Annan's spouses is Nane Maria Annan (m. 1984), Titi Alakija (m. 1965–1970)

  • Who is Kofi Annan siblings?

    Kofi Annan's siblings is Efua Ataa

  • Who is Kofi Annan childrens?

    Kofi Annan's childrens is Ama Annan, Kojo Annan, Nina Cronstedt de Groot

  • What was Kofi Annan universities?

    Kofi Annan studied at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Macalester College, MIT Sloan School of Management, Mfantsipim School, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

  • What was Kofi Annan notable alumnis?

    Kofi Annan's notable alumnis is Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT)

  • What is Kofi Annan's religion?

    Kofi Annan's religion is Protestantism

  • How tall is Kofi Annan?

    Kofi Annan's height is 175

  • Who is Kofi Annan's father?

    Kofi Annan's father is Henry Reginald Annan

  • Who is Kofi Annan's mother?

    Kofi Annan's mother is Victoria Annan

  • What is Kofi Annan's sun sign?

    Kofi Annan is Aries

  • How famous is Kofi Annan?

    Kofi Annan is famouse as Former UN Secretary General