Kofi Annan Biography: Wife, Age, Parents, Net Worth, Children, Death, Siblings, Family, Books

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Kofi Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who rose to international prominence through his work with the United Nations.

He served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1997 to 2006, becoming the first black African to hold the position.

Annan’s tenure was marked by his efforts to reform the UN, promote human rights, and address global challenges such as poverty, conflict, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

His commitment to peace and multilateralism earned him and the UN the Nobel Peace Prize 2001.

Annan’s legacy extends beyond his time at the UN, as he advocated for global cooperation and sustainable development through various foundations and initiatives.

Profile

• Full name: Kofi Atta Annan
• Date of birth: April 8, 1938
• Age: Would be 86 years old (as of 2024)
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Kumasi, Gold Coast (now Ghana)
• Nationality: Ghanaian
• Profession: Diplomat
• Parents: Henry Reginald Annan ,Victoria Annan
• Siblings: Efua Atta Annan (twin sister)
• Spouse: Titi Alakija (married 1965; divorced 1983), Nane Lagergren (married 1984)
• Children: Kojo Annan, Ama Annan
• Relationship status: Was married to Nane Lagergren at the time of his death
• Religion: Methodist
• Ethnicity: Akan
• Net worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Kofi Annan would have been 86 years old as of 2024. He was born on April 8, 1938, in Kumasi, in what was then the Gold Coast (now Ghana).

Henry Reginald Annan’s father was a provincial governor and a hereditary chief. He had a twin sister, Efua Atta Annan, who died in 1991.

Annan attended the elite Mfantsipim School, a Methodist boarding school in Cape Coast. He then studied economics at the Kumasi College of Science and Technology (now Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology).

Annan continued his education in the United States, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1961.

He later pursued graduate studies in economics at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

In 1972 he received a Master of Science in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Personal Life

Kofi Annan was married twice. His first marriage was to Titi Alakija, a Nigerian woman, in 1965. They had two children, Kojo and Ama. The couple divorced in 1983.

In 1984, Annan married Nane Lagergren, a Swedish lawyer and artist. Nane had a daughter, Nina Cronstedt, from a previous marriage.

Annan was known for his quiet demeanour and diplomatic skills, which served him well throughout his career.

Career

Kofi Annan’s career with the United Nations began in 1962 when he joined the World Health Organization in Geneva.

He held various positions within the UN system, including roles in budget and finance, peacekeeping operations, and refugee affairs.

In 1993, he was appointed Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. He oversaw UN peacekeeping missions in several conflict zones, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia, and Rwanda.

In 1996, he was appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations, a position he held for two terms from 1997 to 2006.

During his tenure, Annan focused on reforming the UN, promoting human rights, and addressing global challenges such as poverty, conflict, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

After leaving the UN, Annan continued to be involved in international affairs. He founded the Kofi Annan Foundation, which promotes global sustainable development, peace, and security.

He also served as the chairman of The Elders, a group of independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights.

Awards

• Nobel Peace Prize (2001)
• Order of the Star of Ghana
• Grand Cross of the Légion d’honneur (France)
• Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (United Kingdom)
• Numerous honorary degrees from universities around the world

Net worth

Kofi Annan’s net worth at the time of his death was $5 million.

He accumulated significant wealth through his long and distinguished career with the United Nations and subsequent involvement in various foundations and initiatives.

Death

Kofi Annan died on August 18, 2018, at the age of 80, in Bern, Switzerland, after a short illness.

People worldwide mourned his death and recognized his contributions to peace and international cooperation.

Controversy

Despite his widespread acclaim, Kofi Annan’s tenure as UN Secretary-General was not without controversy.

One of the most significant controversies involved the UN’s Oil-for-Food Programme in Iraq. The program, intended to provide humanitarian relief to Iraqis under sanctions, was plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

An independent inquiry found that Annan’s son, Kojo, had benefited from the program and that Annan himself had not done enough to investigate the allegations.

Another controversy arose from the UN’s handling of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Annan, who was then head of UN peacekeeping operations, was criticized for failing to prevent the genocide.

A UN report later acknowledged that the UN had made serious errors and had not deployed enough troops to protect civilians.

Annan also faced criticism for his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the war in Iraq. Some accused him of being too sympathetic to the Palestinians, while others criticized him for not doing enough to prevent the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Despite these controversies, Annan remained a respected figure in international affairs. He was widely praised for reforming the UN, promoting human rights, and addressing global challenges. His legacy as a champion of peace and multilateralism continues to inspire people worldwide.

Social Media

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Books

• Interventions: A Life in War and Peace (2012)

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