Kofi Atta Annan

Kofi Atta Annan was born on April 8, 1938 in the Kofandros section of Kumasi, Ghana. His twin sister, Efua Atta Annan, died in 1991. Their middle names mean “twin.” Annan attended the Mfantsipim school in Cape Coast from 1954 to 1957. After he graduated, Annan started pursuing a degree in economics at the Kumasi College of Science and Technology in Ghana, where he was the recipient of a Ford Foundation grant. This enabled him to finish his undergraduate studies at Macalester College in Minnesota in 1961. From there, Annan studied at the Graduate Institute of International Studies Management in Geneva, Switzerland, and then at the Sloan School of Management at MIT. Annan proceeded to work at the World Health Organization and then the United Nations, and in 1996 he was selected by the U.N. Security Council to serve as the Secretary-General, and was confirmed by a General Assembly vote four days later, becoming the seventh person to hold the position, and the first black African Secretary-General. His term began on January 1, 1997. Annan’s term was renewed on January 1, 2002, which was unusual since the role of Secretary-General usually rotates among continents after two terms, and Annan’s predecessor was also from Africa. His most personal objective was to deal with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and helped to establish the Global AIDS and Health Fund. Annan also focused on improving the coherence and coordination of the U.N., and played a key role in many peace and diplomatic initiatives in many international situations. In September of 2004, he spoke out against any military invasions of Iraq without the consent of the U.N. In anticipation of his retirement at the end of 2006, Annan gave a farewell address on September 19, 2006, in which he pointed out three major problems he thinks have not been fully dealt with during his tenure. These three issues are “an unjust world economy, world disorder, and widespread contempt for human rights and the rule of law.” He also noted that the violence in Africa and the Arab-Israeli conflict were two key issues that cannot be ignored. Annan is married to Nane Annan of Sweden, and they have three children.

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