Nduom in Atlanta

PRESS RELEASE DR. PAPA KWESI NDUOM, MP PAYS TRIBUTE TO DR. ASA GRANT HILLIARD, III – NANA BAFFOUR AMANKWATIA II BY DR. PAPA KWESI NDUOM, AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING INTERNATIONAL CHAPEL, MOREHOUSE COLLEGE IN ATLANTA ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2007

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, MP for KEEA, former Minister of Public Sector Reform and a CPP Presidential aspirant on Wednesday, August 22nd joined an impressive array of scholars, religious leaders, professionals and people from all walks of life and from many different countries to acclaim the legacy and community of Dr. Asa Grant Hilliard, III. Dr. Hilliard passed away in Egypt where he lectured on African heritage and culture. Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Dr. Iva E. Carruthers, Haki & Safisha Mahdabuti (Third World Press), Dr. Conrad Worrill were among those who participated in the programme. It is expected that a distinguished group of African American leaders will participate in the funeral service on Thursday, August 23rd. Dr. Hilliard was a very good friend and an advocate of Ghana’s interest and cultural heritage. He touched the lives of several thousands of people throughout the world with his passion and commitment to helping people to know their African heritage and culture.

An inspiring tribute was paid to Dr. Hilliard by the Liberian community. Dr. Hilliard is credited with establishing a public school system in Liberia that has endured with time. A burial ceremony was performed for him as a Bassa Chief. He was made a paramount chief of the Bassa ethnic group in Liberia with the name, Dr. Chief Dekontee Asa Grant Hilliard, III.

Dr. Nduom said that he was there to “… to pay tribute as a Member of Parliament in the Republic of Ghana to a brother, an elder and a scholar, who was a true son of Africa, Dr. Asa Grant Hillard, III. He was given the stool name Nana Baffour Amankwatia II as a Development Chief for the town called Mankranso in Ghana. He was made a Chief in recognition of the genuine concern he had for well being of the people of Ghana. He knew the continent of Africa because he lived there and made his contribution to our people in so many ways. He walked in the footsteps of Marcus Garvey, W. E. B. DuBois, Kwame Nkrumah and many, many other Pan Africanists who worked so that the African race can feel free, confident and competitive in a world that sometimes wants to push us to the fringes of society.

I t is my hope that many more people of African descent will decide to dedicate themselves as Brother Hilliard did, to freeing the minds of our people so that we can be proud of our heritage. It is through the knowledge of our proud history and culture that we can stand in a solid foundation to unite all Africans so that our people can be truly free and prosperous wherever they find themselves in this world. “

While in the USA, Dr. Nduom is consulting with a broad cross section of people to help shape the policy that will harness expertise, resources of African Americans and Ghanaians in North America to support the rapid development and prosperity of Ghana.