Kofi Annan, Adadevoh get 2018 posthumous ECOWAS Prize of Excellence

The 2018 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Prize of Excellence has been posthumously awarded to a former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, and Nigeria’s ‘Ebola doctor,’ Dr Ameyo Adadevoh for their contributions to the region’s well-being.

The prize was presented to representatives of their families at the 55th summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Saturday in Abuja.

The award was also presented to Madam Germaine Acogny, a Senegalese dancer and choreographer who developed African Dance and created several dance schools in France and Senegal.

The wife of the former UN secretary-general, Nane Annan, the son of Adadevoh, Bankole Cardoso and Acogny received the awards and cash prizes of $20,000, $10,000 and $15,000 each.

Annan, who died on August 18, 2018, was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from January 1997 to December, 2006.

He and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize and he was also the founder and chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation.

Annan joined the UN in 1962, working for the World Health Organisation’s (WHO), Geneva office.

Also, Adadevoh who was confirmed to test positive for Ebola virus disease on August 4, 2014, and was being treated, died on August 19, 2014.

She is renowned for her contributions towards curbing the spread of Ebola virus in Nigeria by placing the patient zero, Patrick Sawyer, in quarantine despite pressures from the Liberian government.

While giving a speech of appreciation on behalf of the recipients, the wife of Annan expressed gratitude to ECOWAS for the award.

“Thank you for this generous recognition of the immense contribution to the objectives of ECOWAS by my husband and dear friend.

“I would also like to thank ECOWAS on behalf of the two other laureates, two outstanding women of West Africa, the late Dr Ameyo Adadevoh for her selfless sacrifice to curb the spread of Ebola in Nigeria, and Madam Germaine Acogny for the quality and richness of her artistic production.”