<<Print>>

Mr Irbard Ibrahim, an International Public Relations Expert, has proposed that the persona of the former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, should be a subject of study across all levels of the country’s educational system.

He said although the Ghana International Peacekeeping Centre has been named after him, his works had featured prominently in Social Studies and Humanities in schools.
However, we should do more individually or collectively as a nation to immortalise his legacy to inspire the future generation.

Mr Ibrahim in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, to pay his tribute to the former UN Secretary-General, who passed away peacefully in Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday morning after a short illness, said Mr Annan was a source of great inspiration not only to Ghanaians, but to the citizens of the world.

Therefore Ghana should designate a day that coincides with the World Peacekeeping Day and declare it “Kofi Annan Day” as a public holiday to immortalize the legacy of this illustrious son of the land who brought so much fame and honour to Ghana.

“Mr Annan is a perfect epitome of a diplomat who taught and preached to the world that diplomacy is a better way of resolving our differences rather than resorting to war and conflict,” Mr Ibrahim said.

The International Public Relations Expert described the former UN Secretary-General as a quintessential example of an international gentleman, who spent a good number of his life for the world’s peace and stability.

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, Ama, Kojo and Nina.