Former President of Ghana Jerry John Rawlings has joined former world leaders to mourn the passing of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Mr Annan died on Saturday in Berne, Switzerland.

Read: Fly Ghana flags at half-mast; Akufo-Addo mourns Kofi Annan

Significantly, he became the UN Secretary-General in 1997, when Mr Rawlings was president of his home country, Ghana.

“My sincere condolences to the wife and family of Kofi Annan,” Mr Rawlings said in his statement of mourning on Saturday.

“Global diplomacy has lost a true gem.”

Even when he left office in 2006, Mr Annan played major roles in sustaining world peace.

Until his death, he was the Chair of the Elders, made up of a group of eminent world leaders.

Read: What world leaders are saying about Ghana’s Kofi Annan

“Kofi Annan was a fine diplomat who committed most of his professional life to world peace,” Mr Rawlings said in his statement.

“He was one of the best, a born diplomat.”

Flags in Ghana are expected to fly at half-mast for a week from Monday, August 20.

READ: Flags to fly at hal-mast in honour of Kofi Annan

“He made Ghana and Africa proud and left a great legacy at the United Nations. Rest in Peace, Kofi Annan.”

Source: 3news.com