Kofi Annan visits peacekeeping training centre

Accra, Aug. 1, GNA - Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday paid glowing tribute to Ghanaian peacekeepers for their untiring efforts at striving to maintain peace across the globe and urged them to use their experience to improve their approaches to peacekeeping. He was interacting with the staff of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) at Teshie, near Accra.

Mr Annan, who was instrumental in bringing the institution into fruition, noted that in as much as conflicts could not be wished away, most of the 41 conflicts that had been raging over the past decade had been reduced to 31, attributing this to the efforts of peacekeepers and training institutions like the KAIPTC. "Work to reduce conflicts is not done yet, but we need dedicated peacekeepers and peacekeeping oriented institutions like this one (KAIPTC) to overcome the many challenges that confront us."

Mr Annan said the loss of peacekeepers should compel others to ensure that all avenues to attain world peace were exploited for the benefit of mankind. He urged employees of the Centre, who were resplendent in their local prints to receive him and his wife, Nane, to continue to work in concert with other notable institutions and to remain open to ideas and comments from colleagues across the world to make the regional institution the cutting edge training and research facility. "The only way we learn is through exchanges of such kind," he told them.

The Deputy Commandant of the Centre, Commodore Albert Addison, told Mr Annan: "While there is no doubt that Ghana is proud of your services to attaining global peace, security and stability, Ghana, West Africa and Africa as a whole are justifiable proud of your achievements in this field and especially your continued support for genuine endeavours at attaining peace." He thanked Mr Annan for permitting Ghana to use his name when the decision to establish the centre was made. Commodore Addison said there was the need to examine new ways of improving on and deepening the achievements of the institution. He solicited the support of Mr Annan for the establishment of an endowment fund to support the operations of the Centre, saying such a facility would provide greater financial security, sustainability of programmes and independence of their work. The Centre, he said, had decided to institute an annual Kofi Annan Lectures on International Peace and Security, which was expected to be the Centre's flagship. Mr Annan would deliver the first lecture next year.

As part of his visit, Mr Annan unveiled a portrait of himself painted by a Chinese artist at the Centre's Schroeder Hall. Mr Annan and his wife planted separated trees to commemorate their visit. Mr Annan, who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN, is currently serving as Chairman of Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa. This is a 150 million-dollar undertaking financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates and Rockefellar Foundations, aimed at increasing productivity for millions of small-scale farmers in Africa.