Ghana’s public says farewell to Kofi Annan

Soldiers guard the coffin of Kofi Annan, who died on August 18 at the age of 80 after a short illness, in Accra, Ghana on September 11, 2018. Annan', who will be buried on September 13 at Burma Camp military cemetery, was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, serving from 1997 to 2006. Cristina Aldehuela/AFP

ACCRA, Ghana — A steady stream of mourners on Tuesday paid their respects to the former UN secretary general Kofi Annan as his body lay in state in the capital of his native Ghana.

The diplomat's body was flown back from his home in Switzerland on Monday ahead of a state funeral and private burial in Accra on Thursday.

Nobel peace laureate Annan, who was the world body's first leader from sub-Saharan Africa, died aged 80 on August 18 after a short illness.

His coffin, draped in Ghana's red, green and gold flag, was guarded by senior military officers in ceremonial uniform at the Accra International Conference Center.

A choir sang hymns and traditional dances were performed as the public got their chance to say farewell to one of the country's most famous sons.

Fritz Kitcher, who spent his career working for the United Nations in Geneva in human rights, said he saw Annan rise through the ranks.

Now retired and back living in Ghana, he said Annan taught him "the benefit of humility, the benefit of honesty, the benefit of decisiveness, and diplomacy from the grassroots".

His role at the UN's first black African leader was "an honor for Ghana", he said.

"It was marvellous in our eyes, it was one of these things that we can only dream... he lifted Africa and showed that we are also able to do great things," Kitcher told AFP.

Most of those who queued to pay their respects wore black and red mourning clothes and passed under large posters of Annan to the sound of pulsating drums.

Cleaner Akwo Kwame Johnson, from neighboring Ivory Coast said he wanted to pay his last respects to "our great father."

Whenever he saw Annan in the news, Johnson said he felt like he was watching a family member.

"He was a president to all the world," he added

Pensioner Joyce Atiase said she was mourning the loss of a "great man." "We all loved him. He played a major role for our country, he did his best," she said.

Scores of world leaders past and present, as well as royalty, are expected in Accra for Annan's funeral on Thursday.

A private burial service will then be held in the city's military cemetery. — Agence France-Presse