Filed in by Olando Testimony Zeongar – 0776819983/0880-361116/life2short4some@yahoo.com
Washington, D.C. – The lead lobbyist for former president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who was reportedly hired recently to play the same role for the administration of President George Weah, head of the Washington, D.C.’s lobbying firm KRL International LLC, Ms. Riva Levinson, has eulogized fallen Ghanaian statesman and one of Africa and the world greatest diplomats, Kofi Atta Annan.
The 80[year-old former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, the only black African to hold the post and the first elected from within the ranks of the world body, was laid to rest in Ghana on Thursday at a State Funeral usually reserved for the passing of presidents.
Levinson, on whom tons of dollars of Liberian government money was spent for the sole purpose of fine-tuning Sirleaf’s international public relations, was reportedly hired through her communications and government relations firm KRL International LLC, to project on the international scene, a good image for President Weah, as far as carving a plan that will be favorable for the Liberian leader and delegation as far as their upcoming trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States is concerned.
In 2016, Levinson and the KRL International LLC within a six month period as of 31 July that year, collected from the Sirleaf led government a total of US$197,277.00, for public relations services, according to the report of the Attorney General to the Congress of the United States on the Administration of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.
The KRL International LLC registrant during that period, contacted U.S. government officials, media representatives, congressional staffers, members of Congress, and others to discuss the state of bilateral relations between the United States and Liberia. The firm also contacted U.S. government officials to ensure the foreign principal remained eligible for bilateral programs
The following year, the Liberian government under Sirleaf, within another six month period, doled out to Levinson and her Washington, D.C. based lobbying firm US$40,000.00, for providing outreach to Congress and the Administration through allocation and appropriations, and worked with other U.S. agencies to ensure that the foreign principal was eligible for bilateral programs.
Howbeit, over the weekend, Ms. Levinson was among an array of foreign guests from around the world including her newly hired boss President Weah who attended the fallen former UN secretary-general Annan’s state funeral at the Accra International Conference Center in the capital of his native Ghana.
Levinson later wrote that the mammoth turnout of dignitaries at the Annan’s funeral was a testament that Annan whom she referred to as a son of West Africa belonged to the world.
“I was in Accra on a long-planned business trip, so the event originally was not in my sights, nor was I on the invitation list, but I felt compelled to attend,” wrote Levinson, who added that she wanted to pay her respects to the former UN secretary-general, whom she saw, due to her working experience in Africa for more than three decades, as a model of leadership on the continent, and one of few voices of authority who could weigh in during times of electoral crisis or civil unrest.
“Persistence paid off for me, as it usually does, and I got myself [a] ticket, she said, adding “I initially sat in the seat labeled for the envoy from Myanmar but was asked to move when the deputy showed up. I eventually landed in an empty seat labeled “deputy minister of Ghana,” and though I didn’t look the part, no one asked me to leave.”
She recalled that the mood of the throng of guests in attendance at the well-attended funeral was a scene of thousands crammed into a space not accustomed to holding such a solemn event, but one thing all the attendees had in common was the sorrow they all shared for the passing of Anna, who she called “a hero who personified the best of humanity and at a time when the world could least afford such a loss.”
Kofi Atta Annan was born in Kumasi, on the Gold Coast of Ghana, on April 8, 1938, entering the world with his twin sister Efua Atta. In the official biography handed out to attendees, it is said that Kofi Annan’s peace-making tendencies in later life came from being a twin, as Ghanaian elders believe that twins are “naturally accommodating because they have to share a womb,” according to Levinson.
“Kofi Annan’s parents instilled in him and his four siblings an independence of thought. His father, Henry Reginald Annan, saw no contradiction in being an African in identity, and a European in outlook, a nationalist and traditionalist, a proponent of political change and an upholder of traditional values. He believed in hard work and discipline. Clearly, this parental advice was foundational for Annan’s life’s work,” she wrote.
Levinson took her time to capture moment by moment, happenings at the funeral, as she penned an article recently published by The Hill, an American political newspaper and website published in Washington, D.C. since 1994.
She heaped praises on organizers of Kofi Annan’s funeral, referring to same as a flawlessly composed ceremony, characterized as dignified, restrained and moving, which said showcased Ghana – its heritage, tolerance, thought leadership, and culture of democracy.
“A communal clergy from Ghana’s multi-dimensional Christian community presided over the service, with traditional leaders and representative of the Muslim population seated along-side the visiting heads of State,” she wrote.
She continued: “Kofi Annan’s diverse family – his first wife from Nigeria, their two children Ama and Kojo, his widow of 35 years, Nane Annan from Sweden, and her daughter Nina – grieved together,” further stating that in his sermon, Reverend Akrofi said of the Annan family, “as in work, Kofi brought together, black and white, north and south, and men and women.”
“The Reverend also spoke of Kofi Annan being of the Akan people, a dominant ethnic group in Ghana, whose symbols and ancient wisdom continue to be reflected in Ghana society. He noted that Kofi Annan understood that wisdom had a sweet taste, but it could be bitter as well, as with it, came great responsibility.”
The moment Ghana president Akufo-Addo delivered his eulogy did not escape Levinson as well, as she recalled the Ghanaian leaders admitting that he was humbled to be able to decree a state funeral in Kofi Annan’s honor, and emphasized the political tradition of the country grounded in respect for human rights, the rule of law, and the principle of democratic accountability.
“Indeed, Ghana’s proud democratic history was on display for the world, with its three former presidents in the audience: Jerry Rawlings, John Kufuor, and John Mahama, all of whom handed over power peacefully to their political opponents.” She further wrote.
“Turns out that my ‘deputy minister’ seat was the best in the house, as I sat next to a former minister who in his free time, was a choir director. Stephen had this booming bass voice with perfect pitch, knew the words to each song and hymn, and accompanied the program with flawless harmony,” Levinson recalls.
Riva Levinson, the president and CEO of KRL International LLC concluded: “Reverend Akrofi said that Ghana was privileged to share Kofi Annan with the world and that the world was richer for him, and Ghana no the poorer. That seemed to best sum the sentiments of those in attendance at the Accra Conference Center, which for those two plus hours was transformed into a revered place of worship.”
