Kofi Annan’s book, Interventions Officially Launched

Memoirs of Ghana, Darfur, Middle East, Rwanda, Somalia, and Kenya.

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga shake hands after Kofi Annan (Rt.) brokered the peace deal.  Photo courtesy of Simon Maina /AFP/ Getty Images

Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s book, ‘Interventions, A Life in War and Peace.’ was officially launched in a colorful ceremony held in Accra, Ghana on Saturday.

In the 353-page book, Annan provides a personal account of life in war-torn and peaceful countries as well as the achievements and challenges of the UN.

Speaking during the ceremony, the soft-spoken former UN boss he noted that democracy was gradually gaining ground globally and urged Ghanaians to foster democracy in order to enhance socio-economic development of the nation.

The book is a good read for Kenyans with the Chief Mediator after the 2007/2008 disputed Elections recounting in a chapter entitled, ‘Half a million Rwandan Ghosts: Crisis in Kenya’, details of the negotiations that led to the 2008 National Accord. He credits the peace accord for developing a framework for a new constitution.    

“The game now had to end. We needed an agreement on the transformation of the Kenyan political system. Otherwise, the country would be unable to bear what seemed sure to come.”

-Excerpt from Interventions, A Life in War and Peace.’

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who served as UN Secretary General from 1997 to 2006 has a rich story to tell.