Former UN expert, 3 others receive Nana Yaa Asantewaa Award

The 5th edition of Nana Yaa Asantewaa’s (NYA) Award was held on 2nd October, 2016, at Kulturhof Dulsberg, Hamburg.

About 300 people, including politicians, journalists, entrepreneurs and people from civic societies attend the gala night to celebrate, network and witness the 2016 NYA laurels.

NYA Award is an annual programme organised by African German Network Association to nominate, honour and celebrate outstanding efforts in civic engagement, media, business, research & development in the German African discourses.

The goal is to make visible role models and create synergy among the youth, families and institutions. We want to encourage them to aim at higher goals in their various endeavors in terms of education, career, family planning and social work. It too intends to effect multiplication, promote gender equality and women's right.

NYA award saw a well contested nomination phase with over 20 nominees. A five member jury consist of Prof. Dr. Rose Baaba Folson (Director of Minerva Research & Consulting), Dr. Bernard Doku (a heart surgeon a. D.), Dr. David Okeke (University of Hamburg) and both engineers Mr. Stephen Ampofo and Nana Kofi Tuffour (Lufthansa Technics GmbH) assessed the achievements of all nominees based on the criterias, very outstanding in profession, family planning and strongly intercultural commitment in social or civic work.

The NYA Prizes include certificate of honor, a trophy and an undisclosed amount of money given by institutions and personalities in charge of each category.



The following people were awarded prices in four categories:

1. Ms. Asmara Habtezion (Ethiopia) – 2016 NYA Civic Engagement Prize Winner

2. Dr. Hartmut Brie (Germany) – 2016 NYA Civic Engagement Prize Winner

3. Dr. med. Rer. Ina Danquah (Germany) – 2016 NYA Research & Development Prize Winner

4. Mrs. Angelina Akpovo (Benin) - 2016 NYA Media & Culture Prize Winner

In a welcome address, Mr. Gulfam Malik, a Social Democratic Party (SPD) Member of Parliament Hamburg and an astute business man with Pakistani root, stressed the importance of volunteer work in various sections of society.

He mentioned many social intervention policies put in place by the German government to enhance the integration of migrants and refugees with African background into the German society. He appealed to the African community to intensify its efforts towards integration and praised Ms. Asmara Habtezion, a German-born Ethiopian for her courage, determination and engagement for humanity, especially refugees with African background.

According to him, Ms Asmara deserves the 2016 NYA Civic-Engagement-Prize because she has over the years wholeheartedly supported documented and undocumented people through counseling, provided assistance in dealing with officialdom and organized family reunion as well as fundraising programs for refugee families and the youth over the years.

When asked about her expectation on the African community in Germany concerning the current refugee status, she said “people should get back to humanity, it is not difficult to do so”.

Dr. Hartmut Brie was the second to receive the prestigious 2016 NYA - Civic Engagement Prize for his immense contributions in many Francophone countries in Africa. Ms. Claudia Voß, a representative of the renowned institution, German-African Business Association, who presented the award together with Nana Kwame Poku, the president of Ghana National House of Chiefs, Germany was impressed about the huge number of projects designed and completed by Mr. Brie during his 22 years professional and voluntary assignment across Africa as United Nation expert of ENA (Ecole Nationale d'Administration) and chairman of the Rotary Club Germany, for German Francophone Africa.



She also mentioned the completion of homes for the blind, village developments projects, humanitarian aid and disaster relief for breastfeeding mothers alongside his financial aid and man power support for adult education.

The 2016 NYA-Culture & Media-Prize went to Mrs. Angelina Akpovo for the promotion of African cultures for the past thirteen years. Mrs Akporo who hails from Benin, is a dance choreographer, a film actress and an event organizer. She founded “Africa Alafia Festival“ which brings together hundreds of people every year to experience and discover the cultural diversity of Africa.

Also she formed the female music group "Black WoMen Power and Yakawumbu". She acted in many films with German film stars like Mr. Dominik Horwitz in the film "Mad About Paris" and Mr. Manfred Krug in the national television broadcaster ARD crime scene “Fetish charme”.

She is also a regular panelist on Air; e.g. WDR series, 'Strong Women'. She invented with her ensemble many dance theater projects like “The goddesses” in 1997,' worshipers in 1999: Anan Kora, “The Encounters”, 2000, “A Journey to the rain forest” in 2002 and “Africa, Allez e Retour” 2004.

Besides, she organizes cultural exchange programes for the youth. Mr. Asare who gave the laudatiopraised her for her contribution to African course and urged others to emulate her outstanding example. Her price was given by Mr. Malik and Nana Eva Bediako.

The 2016 NYA-Research & Development-Prize was submitted to Dr. Medic. Rer. Ina Danquah by Prof. Dr. Rose Baaba Folson and Nana Kofi Tuffour for her bold and inspirational role in the fight against type 2 diabetes mellitus and an increased risk for malaria infection in the sub-Saharan Africa. She published many articles with summa cum laude. Ina organizes science seminars and congress for African scientists to Germany.

She collaborated with Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in Kumasi, University of Ghana, Accra and Charite – Medical School in Berlin.

In receiving the award she said "I believe that outstanding performance in science and a satisfied family life can go hand in hand.

For me, this is underlined by the fact that with a great mental support by my partner and my three sons, I could have neither published more than 20 papers nor received scholarships, awards and prizes for my research work".

Music for the night was provided by the UK based musician Marion Campbell (The Voice of Germany 2014), Mcclexx Gps (Cote D‘ivoire), The Stewards Band (Germany), Akwasi Antwi aka. Adepa, (Ghana) and Tete Wobi Kyere and other cultural activities. The programme was climaxed with a fundraising program in support of Ghanaian Child with Brain cancer.

N.Y.A wishes to express its profound gratitude to all sponsors and supporters including: Ministry of Culture Hamburg, Project Globus, Basis und Woge, District Authority of Hamburg north, City Council Hamburg Dulsberg, THE Agency, African Courier Magazine, Ga-Adangme Club, Ga Adambe Community Hamburg, Ghana National House of Chiefs, Germany, The Association of German African Business, Top Afric Online Magazine, Ghana Waves Radio, Adikanfo Radio, African Courier Magazine, among others. There was an after show party hosted by Dj Cliff (Ghana) till the early hours of the next day.



The presenter of the night was Mrs. Dayan Kodua, a fashion model, film actress and an author.