Celebrities Kofi Annan, Birthday: 8 April 1938, Kumasi, Ghana

I have always believed that on important issues, the leaders must lead. Where the leaders fail to le...Show more »

I have always believed that on important issues, the leaders must lead. Where the leaders fail to lead, and people are really concerned about it, the people will take the lead and make the leaders follow. Show less «

More countries have understood that women's equality is a prerequisite for development.

If one is going to err, one should err on the side of liberty and freedom.

If information and knowledge are central to democracy, they are conditions for development.

In the 21st century, I believe the mission of the United Nations will be defined by a new, more prof...Show more »

In the 21st century, I believe the mission of the United Nations will be defined by a new, more profound awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every human life, regardless of race or religion. Show less «

In their greatest hour of need, the world failed the people of Rwanda.

Business, labor and civil society organizations have skills and resources that are vital in helping ...Show more »

Business, labor and civil society organizations have skills and resources that are vital in helping to build a more robust global community. Show less «

It has been said that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity.

When economic conditions are difficult, people tend to be less generous and protect themselves; the ...Show more »

When economic conditions are difficult, people tend to be less generous and protect themselves; the question of solidarity doesn't mean much to them at that time. Show less «

We have the means and the capacity to deal with our problems, if only we can find the political will...Show more »

We have the means and the capacity to deal with our problems, if only we can find the political will. Show less «

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every societ...Show more »

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. Show less «

There is no development strategy more beneficial to society as a whole - women and men alike - than ...Show more »

There is no development strategy more beneficial to society as a whole - women and men alike - than the one which involves women as central players. Show less «

In the rush for justice it is important not to lose sight of principles the country holds dear.

Iraq has a new opportunity to comply with all these relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

The question is the morning after. What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing? What happen...Show more »

The question is the morning after. What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing? What happens in the region? What impact could it have? These are questions leaders I have spoken to have posed. Show less «

I urge the Iraqi leadership for sake of its own people... to seize this opportunity and thereby begi...Show more »

I urge the Iraqi leadership for sake of its own people... to seize this opportunity and thereby begin to end the isolation and suffering of the Iraqi people. Show less «

More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face ...Show more »

More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together. And that, my friends, is why we have the United Nations. Show less «

Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones ...Show more »

Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development. Show less «

Above all else, we need a reaffirmation of political commitment at the highest levels to reducing th...Show more »

Above all else, we need a reaffirmation of political commitment at the highest levels to reducing the dangers that arise both from existing nuclear weapons and from further proliferation. Show less «

If the United Nations does not attempt to chart a course for the world's people in the first decades...Show more »

If the United Nations does not attempt to chart a course for the world's people in the first decades of the new millennium, who will? Show less «

We must ensure that the global market is embedded in broadly shared values and practices that reflec...Show more »

We must ensure that the global market is embedded in broadly shared values and practices that reflect global social needs, and that all the world's people share the benefits of globalization. Show less «

The Lord had the wonderful advantage of being able to work alone.

What governments and people don't realise is that sometimes the collective interest - the internatio...Show more »

What governments and people don't realise is that sometimes the collective interest - the international interest - is also the national interest. Show less «

We have to choose between a global market driven only by calculations of short-term profit, and one ...Show more »

We have to choose between a global market driven only by calculations of short-term profit, and one which has a human face. Show less «

To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where yo...Show more »

To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there. Show less «

National markets are held together by shared values and confidence in certain minimum standards. But...Show more »

National markets are held together by shared values and confidence in certain minimum standards. But in the new global market, people do not yet have that confidence. Show less «

I don't share the view that the ICC is anti-African. The ICC is not putting Africa on trial. The ICC...Show more »

I don't share the view that the ICC is anti-African. The ICC is not putting Africa on trial. The ICC is fighting impunity and individuals who are accused of crimes. Show less «

Time and again, when member states and the governments are faced with an insoluble problem, and they...Show more »

Time and again, when member states and the governments are faced with an insoluble problem, and they're under pressure to do something, that something usually ends up being referred to the U.N. Show less «

On climate change, we often don't fully appreciate that it is a problem. We think it is a problem wa...Show more »

On climate change, we often don't fully appreciate that it is a problem. We think it is a problem waiting to happen. Show less «

We cannot wait for governments to do it all. Globalization operates on Internet time. Governments te...Show more »

We cannot wait for governments to do it all. Globalization operates on Internet time. Governments tend to be slow moving by nature, because they have to build political support for every step. Show less «

Open markets offer the only realistic hope of pulling billions of people in developing countries out...Show more »

Open markets offer the only realistic hope of pulling billions of people in developing countries out of abject poverty, while sustaining prosperity in the industrialized world. Show less «

The United Nations, whose membership comprises almost all the states in the world, is founded on the...Show more »

The United Nations, whose membership comprises almost all the states in the world, is founded on the principle of the equal worth of every human being. Show less «

Many African leaders refuse to send their troops on peace keeping missions abroad because they proba...Show more »

Many African leaders refuse to send their troops on peace keeping missions abroad because they probably need their armies to intimidate their own populations. Show less «

Unfortunately, very few governments think about youth unemployment when they are drawing up their na...Show more »

Unfortunately, very few governments think about youth unemployment when they are drawing up their national plans. Show less «

We need to keep hope alive and strive to do better.

Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of red...Show more »

Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance. Show less «

If we can come up with innovations and train young people to take on new jobs, and if we can switch ...Show more »

If we can come up with innovations and train young people to take on new jobs, and if we can switch to clean energy, I think we have the capacity to build this world not dependent on fossil-fuel. I think it will happen, and it won't destroy economy. Show less «

We need to think of the future and the planet we are going to leave to our children and their childr...Show more »

We need to think of the future and the planet we are going to leave to our children and their children. Show less «

Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan's FILMOGRAPHY

Feedback about this page?