Kojo Annan Answers Critics

[Mike F]

From CNN

Kojo Annan, in his first public comment on the subject, told CNN in a written statement: "I have never participated directly or indirectly in any business related to the United Nations."

Cotecna hired Annan to work in West Africa shortly after he graduated from a British university. The firm says his job involved pre-shipment inspections of goods in Nigeria and Ghana, the native countries, respectively, of his mother and father

After his employment ended, Cotecna continued to pay Annan until February 2004 -- a total of $125,000 over four years, he says -- as part of a non-competition agreement that precluded Annan from working for Cotecna competitors