Kofi Annan's road to growth

Kofi Annan was born as twins. It was1April 8, 938. First, his twin sister Eve was born, and then he was born. Coffey was born into a noble family in Kumasi, the capital of the hinterland of the Gold Coast. The Annan family is not only rich, but also belongs to the aristocratic class, so it enjoys a special reputation and has great influence in Ashanti. Although Annan's father is Akon, strictly speaking, he is half Ashanti and half Fanti, and he comes from the inland Ashanti region. His mother, like his stepmother, belongs to the Fanti tribe, and they live in the coastal areas. Two tribes speak a dialect of the same language, also known as Akken, and the difference between dialects lies more in accent than vocabulary. Akon's varieties include Fanti, Teutonic, Akwa Pim, Achim and Brown. Coffey and his brothers and sisters learned several African dialects, but basically they all grew up in Fanti.

/Kloc-When he was 0/6 years old, after many transfers, like all his brothers and sisters, he finally came to a boarding school on the coast about 200 kilometers away from his hometown of Kumasi. Mantesipim is one of the best and oldest schools in this country. In the year of Ghana's independence, Annan graduated from Mantesipim Middle School and returned to his hometown of Kumasi, where he studied national economics for two years. The Annan family also owns a multi-storey house with many rooms, and every child has enough space. Coffey can start his research in an environment without materials. The conditions in Kumasi are much better than those in other capital cities in Ghana, and the conditions in Annan's family are also much better than those in many domestic families. At that time, Kofi Annan was deeply rooted in the African value system. He plans to live a life similar to his father's in some ways: before he is 45, he wants to be a businessman and then work in Ghana 15. At the age of 60, he spent his later years as a cocoa grower. But his future is not like this. In less than two years, he went to another country, another continent, where the atmosphere was completely different. Although he has been planning to return to the motherland after several years from the beginning, it is doomed to be a long farewell. Since then, more than 40 years have passed, and only in the 1970s did he have a short stay in Ghana. But in his mind, Kofi Annan will always be an African, always full of affection for his hometown. Annan studied national economics at Kumasi University of Science and Technology for four semesters. This university was also founded by Christians, but it was later renamed "Francis Nwia Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology" to show respect for the pioneers of the independence movement. The school obviously puts academic emphasis on engineering technology science and agricultural science. This is not entirely in line with Annan's hobby, which may be the reason why he chose to leave school two years later. The school is located near one of the richest gold mines in the country, only 60 kilometers away from the gold mine, which is easy to understand why the school sets the professional direction. He was elected as the student representative of the school, and was soon promoted to vice president of the Ghana National University Organization. 65438-0958, attended the international conference of university student leaders in West Africa held in Sierra Leone. It was there that the representative of the famous American Ford Foundation "discovered" this clever young man and got in touch with him. The representative asked him to apply for a scholarship in America. The Ford Foundation will provide opportunities for African student leaders who keep their promises and study hard. The name of the project is "Foreign Student Leaders Project". Annan, who is always eager to grow up, submitted an application and successfully won a full scholarship to Macalester College in St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota, USA, which is a completely strange school for him. In recalling this experience, he thought that it was a big step for him to leave Ghana and move from tropical to cold Minnesota anyway. It can also be said that this is a cultural shock: because the state is located in the north-central United States, adjacent to Canada. That area is almost barren; It is an ancient American federal state, with about 5 million residents in the whole area, and the population was even smaller at that time. Moreover, perhaps the most important thing in Annan's eyes is that more than 90% of the residents there are white. This is really a fatal thing for a 2 1 year-old black man in the early 1960s: in a nearly "white" state in the northern United States, racial conflicts have begun to break out. Despite his superior family background, Annan never thought that there would be such a great change. The first trip outside Africa became a major turning point in Annan's life. Decades later, he can still feel this. 1In the summer of 959, he stayed at Harvard University for several weeks, and finally registered at Macalester College, which probably made his new life in the United States easier without directly feeling the huge climate difference from hot Africa to the northern part of the United States.

Some things in the United States made him feel so strange, while others he was already familiar with: the era of national resistance, sit-in strikes, demonstrations and blockades left an impression on Annan, just like the continuation of Ghana's political independence struggle in which he had just participated. "Different cultures, different ways, but the goal is the same. So, you can also get involved, "he later recalled. He paid close attention to those political events with great interest, for which he himself had one or two bad experiences. Once, he was walking with some friends. They were abused by a group of drunken young people because of their skin color. On another occasion, he walked through the city with a white girl. He was attacked violently and finally escaped. Despite this, Annan did not return to the safety zone of the free Macalester campus and stayed indoors all day. After the end of the first school year, in the summer of 1960, he traveled to the mainland of America with a teacher representative and several friends for several weeks. Young people from four continents and five different countries crowded into a station wagon, which they named "The Messenger of Friendship". Their aim is to know as much as possible about this country and its people. They spend the night in American homes, living in poor families, rich families, rural areas and cities. Once, in order to understand the living conditions of local prisoners, they even wanted to sleep in prison. But they didn't get what they wanted, but they managed to spend the night in the local Salvation Army Center. During the trip, this outstanding team was forced to face racist conflicts many times, but it did not leave any strange impression on all participants. Even so, they finally kept their true colors: these college students from wealthy families still set foot on their way home with confidence.

As in Kumasi, Annan still studied national economics. As before, he likes political debates-and not just in the college club. In American universities, the above-mentioned big debate belongs to the advocated university debate culture. They are disciplined and follow clear rules, but they may fight to the death for something. In order to sharpen people's minds, participants often have to defend the opposite of their firm beliefs. Annan often takes part in speech contests with his friends. If he wants to choose his own topic freely, he will focus his speech on the rich and the poor, the opportunities in a closely connected world or the role of the United States in the post-war era. One day, he even won the state speech contest; This time, he discussed the responsibility of the United States to developing countries and young countries emerging from colonial rule. One of his teachers at that time excitedly recalled Annan's "wonderful" Ghanaian accent similar to Oxford English. There is no doubt that he also had a deep and delicate voice at that time, and he left a deep impression on every conversation partner, even though his language was surprisingly simple and he hardly used any skills. In the "World Club", he quickly became the president of the club, and college students also made great efforts for mutual understanding between countries, first of all, between the United States and other countries. In other words, Annan found the theme of "he" in his early twenties, and those themes have never left him since then, that is, justice, balance between the rich and the poor, and national understanding. At the latest, he began to practice the art of speaking firmly and often. This kind of training will be beneficial to him as Secretary-General of the United Nations.

As in boarding school, Annan often participated in sports and left an indelible impression on Macalester College with excellent results. Contrary to German universities, physical education has great traditional significance in American universities. Stars of football or basketball teams will soon become the most popular people in social life. Annan was originally a track and field athlete. At first, he tried to play American football "Nothing, as long as I run ahead of others and don't let others catch up with me," Annan later said about his related attempts. But as a man weighing only 60 kilograms, he is not strong enough to engage in this sport. So he began to turn to European football, which brought him more success and more fun. But his best result is running. As a 60-yard sprinter, he set a university record and kept the record of this project for 10 years.

1In the early summer of 962, Annan was fighting for a position in the United Nations. In the eyes of idealistic young students, the United Nations is the right way to realize their dreams. Students often stay up all night in Coffey and Roy's apartment to discuss the future of the world. So Annan began his work in the World Health Organization. First, I signed a short-term contract and renewed it because of my excellent work. In fact, the purpose of his trip to Geneva was to study for a doctorate, but his studies soon took a back seat, as did his doctoral thesis. He didn't even get a master's degree; During his study in the Institute for Advanced Studies in Geneva, he not only enriched his life experience, but also made many new friends and mastered a fair knowledge of French. Soon, the United Nations attracted his attention. When Annan first started his job, his position was very low: starting from the bottom, he worked as an administrative and financial expert at the World Health Organization. As a budgeter, he works in the headquarters of the World Health Organization, not far from the campus where he left. His salary is P 1, which is the minimum wage for college graduates. The United Nations divides personnel into two categories: professionals and general staff. It can be upgraded from P 1 to P5. After the level of department heads, the department heads are D 1 to D2, then the department heads are assistant secretaries-general, then the deputy secretaries-general, and the highest level is the secretary-general himself. In the 40-year career of the United Nations, Annan has experienced all levels from the bottom to the top. He knows this organization better than most people. He knows almost every aspect of this organization. Annan has accumulated the least experience in peacekeeping operations abroad, only a few months in the 1970s, and even this time was spent in administrative organs.

1in the summer of 962, although his younger brothers and sisters all thought that he was a versatile young man and would achieve something in his career, no one expected that he would last such a long career in this world organization, at least he didn't think so himself. Annan always thought that his life abroad was only temporary. But he likes this world organization very much. What he likes is the international atmosphere, which he appreciated when he first came to Macalester College. In addition, he has a feeling that he is closer to his ideal here than in his hometown. The political situation in my hometown is becoming more and more turbulent. So he stayed and signed one contract after another. Annan worked in Geneva with people from many countries in the world for three years. Apart from the work content, what fascinates him most is the atmosphere.

Three years later, he really wanted to go outside-he was tired of working at the Geneva headquarters and wanted to go to the place where he thought he would start his real life: a branch of the United Nations. He wanted to go to Africa to "help improve the situation on this continent", so he applied for transfer. The World Health Organization has vacant posts in Congo and Egypt. These two places aroused his interest and he applied for positions in these two places. However, the place people offered him was the Philippines first, and then India. After a long discussion with their boss, they finally offered him a position in the Danish capital. "Copenhagen is good," he thought, but it didn't meet his wishes. He feels that the difference between here and Geneva is not big enough. 15 minutes later, the boss received his resignation application. He never regretted the decision. Annan insisted on his decision and left WHO, and he didn't know the exact location of his new post. But he is young, optimistic and confident, and believes that he will find a new job soon. During those few weeks, he sent many letters and applied for all the positions that Africa might need. While waiting for a reply from his future employer, Annan and his young wife, Rhinoceros, went to Europe for several weeks. They are just newlyweds. Although the future prospect is still unclear, Annan is "very satisfied and quite happy" because he has made a responsible decision. And in fact, there are several positions for him to choose from soon, one of which is the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

1965 In September, when Annan took over his new post in Ethiopia, the Economic Commission for Africa was only seven years old. In the stage of construction and expansion; For a management expert, this is a fascinating task. Annan worked in personnel there and was dealing with personnel until the 1990s. As a "person in charge of personnel", his title at that time was this name. He must examine the application letter, supplement the personnel file and deal with various problems in labor law. The following anecdote can illustrate how much patience is sometimes needed to deal with things: it is about a Russian professor who wants to teach in Kenya for one year. Because his materials were transferred to the Economic Committee, as the head of personnel work, Annan had to ask about it. After convincing the Russian side of the benefits of communication, he suddenly found that the professor only spoke Russian. What shall we do without giving up the project? That won't do. After all, it took him a lot of time and energy. So he immediately asked Russia to provide another translator. Moscow finally agreed and provided funds for professors and translators. One year passed, and Kenya asked to continue the exchange for another year. Annan found his Russian partner again. After a little hesitation, the responsible party finally revised the postponement decision: but only the translator was allowed to stay and the professor had to go back to his hometown. Any persuasion is useless; The decision has been made. Such stories show that personnel management at that time, especially in a different "army" like the United Nations, needed some creativity. At that time, there was no alphabetical list of computers; People use index cards, telephones, ballpoint pens and many improvisations to work. In addition, the personnel policy is often enough to become a part of the East-West debate, because the groups formed by those countries always try to put "their" own people in an important position. Therefore, despite engaging in administrative affairs, Annan has repeatedly fallen into the trap of power politics.

At the end of 1960s, for one year, Annan interrupted his stay in Ethiopia, but the purpose was not to work in the United Nations: 1968, he was assigned to the base camp in new york for a one-year study. He was assigned to the personnel department again, but this was the first time he was close to the real power center. At that time, the international organization was led by the third Secretary-General, Wu Dan, who was a Burmese. Annan's room is on the 29th floor, and almost all of new york is at his feet. Today, the United Nations has lost many of its original charms, with severely damaged furniture and dilapidated buildings. But at that time, Nina Mises described that in the first few decades, the atmosphere around the East River was "very high". Annan was also driven by this attraction, and later he always liked to go back to new york. However, he had to go to Africa again and return to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia. New york's further education brought him the opportunity of promotion: he became the temporary head of the personnel department there, and soon officially took up this post. Then, after another year of "African adventure", he seems ready for another transfer. Just in his early thirties, he fell into an inner crisis and began to look for a new shore. He took a long vacation for a year.

Annan returned to the university and the United States. Take a one-year management course at MIT. I can go to MIT for further study this time, because he knows a professor there. The professor once attended a meeting in Addis Ababa. Annan talked with him and exchanged views with the professor on various opportunities for further study in the United States. He hopes to have the opportunity to study management at Si Long School of Management. His application was answered positively, so he was able to move to Cambridge, Massachusetts in June of 197 1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is recognized as one of the best universities in the world, and being able to study there will undoubtedly write a particularly strong sum on everyone's resume. By the way, Annan didn't get a master's degree, which he may need in order to make greater progress in his future career. In many ways, this kind of temporary leave from work to go to college to recharge is beneficial and harmless to him. Despite the high academic requirements, Annan "had a wonderful year." The temporary interruption of work actually made him think things clearly and overcome his inner crisis. But instead of seeking a high-paying position like most of his classmates, he returned to the United Nations. It is impossible to accumulate property in the United Nations, but I live well as an international official. It is a fact that if Annan chooses to work in a free economy, he may get a higher income. But money is not his only motivation.

He was once again sent to Addis Ababa for a few weeks to take up his old post-this is the third time. With a new college diploma in his luggage, he went from Addis Ababa to Geneva, which was a big leap. He didn't go to the World Health Organization before, but went directly to the administrative department of the United Nations, which is the second headquarters of the United Nations after new york. He is mainly engaged in administrative affairs. Annan stayed in Geneva for two years, and then he was transferred to Egypt to carry out peacekeeping operations, where he served as a civil affairs official for six months. For Annan, the 1970s was completely turbulent. It is often that he has just arrived in one place and is about to go to another place. It seems that he is not so confident about his career and life planning. He has moved 13 times. Even after staying abroad for so many years, he felt that moving to Ghana was largely worth pursuing.

Annan is engaged in developing tourism in Accra. He is the general manager of Ghana Tourism Development Company, a state-owned enterprise. His motivation and enthusiasm for "embracing" his hometown disappeared in a blink of an eye. At that time, the hero of the former independence movement and President nkrumah had been overthrown in a military coup. He went into exile and died of cancer in Bucharest on 1972. From 1966 when the government of nkrumah was overthrown to 1974 when Annan returned to Ghana, Ghana experienced a period of political turmoil. The government often changes. Shortly before Annan returned to China, another soldier succeeded in seizing power through a coup: Colonel Acheampong was regarded as "ignorant of economy" and unlucky in other aspects. Production and trade are at a standstill, smuggling and black market are rampant, and democratic institutions are destroyed. 1978, the colonel was overthrown by his military colleagues in a palace revolution. When Annan took office in Ghana Tourism Development Company, the domestic atmosphere was already quite tense. Theoretically, he can make his own decisions and make his own organizational arrangements there, but in fact, those military and political officials always interfere wantonly. This makes Annan, who has just returned to China, at a loss, because he hopes to open the tourism market of the motherland and create a rich life for the people. For example, he plans to build some hotels in coastal areas. But he hates everything here; He doesn't like those officers constantly telling him what to do. "Too many cards are banned and blocked," he also regretted. "Nothing." So he went abroad to look for his luck. After Accra's disappointment, 1976, Annan reported back to the United Nations, this time to new york as the personnel director. As usual, he is reliable and stable, but he doesn't show it clearly. Annan is respected within the scope of his work, but he is not a radiant but fleeting "meteor". He is climbing quietly, step by step. People think he is a lovely colleague-both his boss and subordinates think so.

From 65438 to 0980, he was sent to the Geneva office of UNHCR as the director of personnel department, responsible for about 2000 employees working in UNHCR at that time. UNHCR is responsible for the displaced and homeless people in the world. The organization is busy in many fields at the same time, mainly dealing with sudden crises that need to be solved immediately. This requires people to invest manpower and material resources quickly and respond quickly, just like that in Southeast Asia. In the late 1970s, thousands of boat people took risks and embarked on an adventure in pursuit of a better future. Or in Africa, countless refugees from Somalia fled to neighboring countries; Or in Latin America, Chileans fled their homes for fear of dictator Pinochet. UNHCR is in an unprecedented development stage, but this organization is not fully prepared at all. This requires senior leaders to know something about crisis management. The personnel department under the leadership of Kofi Annan is always busy sending staff to all parts of the world, especially those responsible for labor law and organization.

In the impression of Walter Koiser, his representative in charge of personnel at that time, Annan was a person with "great leadership qualities", and his immediate boss Franz Joseph Horman-Helinberg also held the same impression. Because he updated the whole personnel management, reorganized the process, and gave this department a fashionable name-"Human Resources Department", which handled and adjusted the work completely according to electronic data. But apart from his direct responsibility, Annan is still an unknown person. It was not until the early 1980s that Annan was sent to new york for a long time and entered the core of the United Nations.