The Member of Parliament for Evalue Ajomoro Gwira, Hon. Kofi Arko Nokoe, has called on Parliament and the government to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Anton Wilhelm Amo, one of Africa’s most remarkable intellectuals, whose story remains largely unknown to many Ghanaians.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament in a statement on Friday November 114, 2025, Hon. Nokoe described Amo, born around 1703 in Axim, as a symbol of African brilliance and resilience. “Anton Amo was taken as a child to Europe—reportedly as a ‘gift’ from the Dutch West India Company to a German Duke—yet he rose to become the first African to attend and teach at European universities,” he noted.
Amo earned a doctorate in philosophy and lectured at prestigious institutions including the Universities of Halle, Wittenberg, and Jena. He published extensively on rational thought, legal rights, and human dignity, challenging racial stereotypes at a time when Africans were widely considered inferior.
Hon. Nokoe emphasized that Amo’s life is a lesson in perseverance and the transformative power of education. “Where you begin does not determine where you can go,” he said. “Even in chains, the African mind could soar.”
The MP proposed several measures to honour Amo’s legacy, including the creation of an annual Anton Amo Lecture Series, establishing monuments or naming institutions after him, integrating his works into the Ghanaian curriculum, and forming academic partnerships with German universities.
“Amo is not just a historical figure—he is a source of motivation for Ghanaian youth and a reminder of the intellectual potential of our people,” Hon. Nokoe concluded.
His call to action seeks to lift Amo from the footnotes of European academic history into the national consciousness, ensuring that future generations of Ghanaians are inspired by the life of this exceptional son of Axim.
By: Christian Kpesese/www.naturalresourcesnews.com
