UN’S ANNAN RECEIVES PRAISE AT STATE FUNERAL

World leaders and international dignitaries came to Ghana to pay their last respects to the late United Nations SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan who was honoured with a state funeral Thursday, as many lauded him as an exceptional man and leader.

Annan, who died on Aug. 18 in Bern, Switzerland at age 80, was the first black African to become the UN leader and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.

“Kofi Annan was courageous, speaking the truth to power while subjecting himself to intense self-scrutiny,” said current UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres.

Presidents from across Africa joined Guterres, Annan’s family and many others in a ceremony that concluded two days of viewings. A private burial followed at Accra’s Military Cemetery, with full military honours and a 17-gun salute.