She gave the commendation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sideline of the sod-cutting ceremony by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the construction of a statue in memory of the late Mr Annan at the KAIPTC in Accra.

"This is a special day for a person like myself, so intimately involved in the life of Kofi Annan, and seeing him become the person he has become by the monuments.

"It is good to lead a good life, because then you are recognised forever," she said.

Mrs Mary Chinery-Hesse, who is also the Chairperson of the KAIPTC's "Goodwill Ambassador" said: "More also, this statue has immortalised Kofi Annan and what he stood for, his principles and advocacy for peace and stability in our world, Africa, West Africa and Ghana."

The statue, which will be constructed by Stone Depot, a Ghanaian company will take six months to complete.

The design of the statue is unique in itself as it portrayed the gentle, quiet and soft-spoken subject Mr Annan in one of his many poses.

The statue to be erected will show Mr Annan in a mobile pose with a simple gesture to signify the subject's continuous desire for world peace.

The statue will portray Mr Annan as an astute gentleman, a peace diplomat and a global icon.

The 20-feet height was chosen to achieve the purpose of a towering statue at the entrance of the KAIPTC, and strategically placed close to the boundary fence and the road, for all to see and appreciate Ghana's international Peace Diplomat on a Giant scale.

The Statue will be produced in grey ornamental stone marble known as Sierra Elvira.

This type of marble stone is original, hardwearing, durable, water resistant and has no weather coloration.

It will measure 18 feet with a pedestal of two-feet totalling 20 foot tall and has a width of six feet, a thickness of five feet and weighs 21 tons.

Among the dignitaries who graced the sod-cutting were former President Pierre Buyoya of Burundi and African Union High Representative to Mali and Sahel (MISAHEL).

Others were; Madam Catharine Samba-Panza, former President of Central African Republic; Mr Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, former President of Somalia; Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, former President of Sierra Leone; and Professor Amos Claudius Sawyer, former President of Liberia.

The rest were; Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and Mr Dominic Nitiwul, Minister of Defence.

The sod-cutting event formed part of the Kofi Annan Peace and Security (KAPS) Forum this year in Accra (4 -5 September), which is the Centre's flagship annual event designed to bring together political leaders, diplomats and experts to dialogue and share ideas on the most critical evolving peace and security trends on the African continent.

The forum is on the theme "Peace Operations in the Context of Violent Extremism in Africa."

The forum also seeks to deepen the collaboration between KAIPTC and international organisations such as the United Nations, African Union, Regional Economic Communities, Governments, development partners, civil society organisations and the business community.