25 Aug 2018 | 05:36 AM UTC
Ghana: State funeral for Kofi Annan set for September 13
President Nana Akufo-Addo announces that a state funeral for Kofi Annan will be held in Accra on September 13; crowded conditions expected
Event
President Nana Akufo-Addo announced on Friday, August 24, that a state funeral will be scheduled for former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on September 13. The funeral will be held in the capital of Accra and Annan will be buried in the military cemetery in Teshie. Specific details regarding the schedule of the ceremony are expected to be released in the coming days. Significant disruptions, including road closures, heightened security measures, and crowded conditions, are anticipated in the city during the memorial event.
Context
Annan served as the UN’s Secretary-General from 1996 to 2007. He was the first person from sub-Sahara Africa to serve in the post and spent 40 years working at the UN. Annan died on August 18, 2018, in Bern (Switzerland) after a short illness.
Advice
Individuals in Accra, and Ghana more generally, are advised to anticipate disruptions to daily life (transportation disruptions, business closures, etc.) on September 13 and to be respectful of local sensitivities during the memorial event.
