He is joined on the board by his wife, Leah Ward Sears, former chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court and now leader of appellate practice of the law firm Schiff Hardin LLC.

“Leah Ward Sears and Haskell Ward bring to the International Advisory Board precisely the kind of contemporary trans-Atlantic cultural and economic connections that we are showcasing through Africa Atlanta 2014," the event's  co-chair, Jacqueline J. Royster, dean of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, told Global Atlanta,  "We are very pleased to have their expertise as part of our efforts to guide and grow this initiative.”

Africa Atlanta 2014 is to be a collaboration of organizations in Atlanta and elsewhere offering throughout the year a wide range of events and activities spanning the arts, culture and business relating to the African continent. It is being presented by the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, the Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta and the Africa Atlanta 2014 Partners..

Stephen Hayes, the president and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa, said the following about Mr. Haskell in an email to Global Atlanta:  

“While Haskell served on the CCA Board of Directors, he was the most passionate board member I had about Africa. I never felt it was about race but about his capacity for and belief in the potential of human relationships. Haskell transcended race  and he praised those who deserved praise just as he never hesitated to condemn what and who he believed to be wrong. He has a mighty sense of justice. He does not romanticize Africa. He is clear about the challenges in doing business in Africa but he is indefatigable in his desire to pursue it on the continent. More than anything he brought a sense of leadership to the board and a passion for Africa that is genuine. He will always be seeing into the future no matter how long he lives.”