Born in Kumasi, Ghana in 1938, Kofi Annan started to work in the UN after college education in Ghana, USA, and Switzerland.

Prior to the election of the Secretary-General, Annan, who was the Undersecretary of the Secretary-General, was later elected as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The fact that the United Nations acted in the direction of the United States during the 2003 US attack on Iraq led to the criticism on Annan. Annan handed over his 10-year UN Secretary-General's duties to South Korean Ban Ki-moon.

In a statement from Kofi Annan Foundation on Annan's death, former UN Secretary-General Annan reportedly died in a hospital where had been treated at the capital Bern Switzerland, due to an unidentified illness.

Who is Kofi Annan?

Kofi Annan was born in Kumasi, Ghana. Kofi Atta Annan, whose birth date was April 8, 1938, was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations.

As children of Henry Reginald and Victoria Annan, Kofi Annan was born with his twin Efua Atta. His father was an exporter in Lever Brothers Company. His family's situation was very good compared to Ghana. This helped Kofi to be sent to the Mfantsipim boarding school, founded in the 1870s.

After studying in Ghana, USA, and Switzerland, he started to work in the UN. Throughout his life, he worked in various branches of the United Nations. Before he was elected the Secretary-General, he was the Undersecretary of the Secretary-General. On December 13, 1996, he was elected as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations after Boutros After Boutros-Ghali. In 2001 he won the Nobel Peace Prize. After 10 years of service, Annan handed over his duty to South Korean Ban Ki-moon on 1 January 2007.

Annan, who is married to Swedish Nane Maria Annan, has three children from his previous marriage. (ILKHA)