Widow: Annan had a joy of life

– World dignitaries laid to rest former UN secretary general Kofi Annan in his native Ghana yesterday, with calls to keep alive the legacy of a “stubborn optimist” to create a better, more peaceful world.

His widow Nane Maria led hundreds of mourners, including world leaders past and present, traditional rulers and global royalty, and called her husband an

Accra

“extraordinary” person who had a “joy of life”.

“My love, you are now back home where you started your long journey. But may your wisdom and compassion continue to guide us, wherever we are,” she said at the funeral service in Accra.

His son, Kojo, said his father had dedicated his life to the ideals of unity, equality, love, peace and respect. “The greatest tribute we could ever pay is to follow his example,” he added to conclude a three-hour ceremony of tributes, prayer and song.

Annan led the UN from 1997 to 2006 and was the first from sub-Saharan Africa to do so. He died on August 18 aged 80.

President Nana Akufo-Addo called him “one of the truly iconic figures of modern times”. –