This Day in History: December 17, 1996
Additional Date: December 17, 1996
A Ghanaian citizen, Kofi Annan, was appointed as secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) to replace the outgoing Boutros Boutros Ghali, whose term of office had expired. He assumed his duties on 1 January 1997. After accepting office, Annan, speaking as secretary-general elect, said that the United Nations, along with the rest of the world, would have to change. He urged all member states to welcome change, not resist it. He further said that with the cooperation of all the nations of the world, it would be possible to make the Organisation leaner and more effective, while allowing it to set more realistic goals. After ten years in office, Annan will be succeeded by South Korea's Ban Ki-moon on 1 January 2007.