Ghana-born former US Marine Erwin Asamoah Boateng chosen for enstoolment as a chief

Pinned summary · as of 05:10

Erwin Asamoah Boateng, born in Ghana and later a US Marine, has been picked by traditional authorities to be enstooled as a chief. He was received as their choice on landing at the airport in Ghana, and his selection came without much public build-up beforehand.

What we know

• Mr Boateng was born in Ghana but grew up in Italy, Germany and Denmark, before moving to the United States soon after the attacks of 11 September 2001.
• He joined the US Marine Corps in 2008 and was sent to Afghanistan in combat roles under Operation Enduring Freedom.
• Based in the Washington area, he looked after sizeable US government assets, and part of his work was tied to the Pentagon. He holds four decorations. Two are the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; another is a NATO Medal awarded for International Security Assistance Force duty in Afghanistan, and the last is the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
• After active service he turned to business and charity work. In 2013 he established Quality Health Africa, a nonprofit that supports health facilities and runs community programmes, education and awareness campaigns.
• Quality Health Africa started with health fairs and gifts of medical supplies in Ghana, among them help for the Bosuso Health Centre. Mr Boateng also set up the Erwin Boateng Community Center, which provides after-school teaching and recreation for children in underserved communities.
• When he arrived at the airport in Ghana, he was received as the man traditional authorities had picked for enstoolment as a chief. The selection was not preceded by the extended public build-up that usually surrounds such installations.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Citi Newsroom alone reported that he has been asked to take up traditional leadership and to put his time abroad, his ability to organise and his record of community service to work for his people; MyJoyOnline has not reported this.

Why it matters for Ghana

Chiefs hold considerable influence over development priorities in their communities, so the choice of a leader with health-sector and charity experience will interest residents of the area concerned. His nonprofit has already supported clinics such as the Bosuso Health Centre, and his community centre serves children outside school hours. The reports do not name the stool or the community, so readers will need further official confirmation of where he will be enstooled.