Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan was laid to rest in his native Ghana on Thursday in a state funeral attended by world leaders, traditional rulers and global royalty. He died on August 18 aged 80 at his home in Switzerland after a short illness. Thousands of mourners gathered in the Accra International Conference Center to pay their last respects. The ceremony marked the end of three days of national mourning for the respected diplomat. Thousands of people have filed past his coffin this week during three days of national mourning. His body was flown back to Ghana from Switzerland on Monday ahead of the funeral.

Kofi Annan was UN Secretary General from 1997. The current head of the UN Antonio Guterres, attended the funeral. African presidents: Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, George Weah of Liberia, Alassane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire, Hage Geingob of Namibia and Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger.also attended the funeral.

Antonio Guterres, praised Koffi Annan and said he was an "exceptional global leader" who was dignified, courageous and a man of "integrity, dynamism and dedication".
He further added that "Kofi Annan was the United Nations and the United Nations was him."
Annan's widow, Nane Maria Annan during her eulogy said; "Kofi always believed that his inner strength and sense of hope came from his deep roots here and I want to thank Ghana for giving me such an extraordinary human being.
"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 added.

Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo called the funeral "a major event for our country" and described Annan as "one of the most illustrious people of this generation".

Africa Team