Meet the 6 foreigners who have been enstooled as chiefs in Ghana
Chieftaincy in Ghana is really held in high esteem by those who confer the title and those who are conferred with such titles.
Most Ghanaian chiefs in the country were and are very much respected and valued even by present day governments.
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Due to the modern trends and influx of foreign culture and diversity, there has been a fluidity of chieftaincy in Ghana which has allowed for non-Ghanaians to be enstooled as chiefs.
YEN.com.gh has however compiled the list of all the foreigners who have been enstooled as chiefs in both past and present times.
1. Roland James Moxon
Source: UGC
Jimmy Moxon alias Nana Kofi Onyaase, was made a traditional chief of Gold Coast after his contract with the British colonial administration ran out.
He is known as the first ‘white man’ to be enstooled in Ghana, on the eve of independence, March 6, 1957, as Nana Kofi Onyaase which in English means chief of the patch of land under the silk cotton tree where his cottage stood.
He later became Ankobiahene of Aburi, a genuinely important position in tribal culture.
After several years of service to the people, Jimmy passed away in 1999 at age 79.
2. Lisa Raye
Source: UGC
Lisa Raye is an American actress, model and entrepreneur was enstooled as a queen mother of Agona Kwanyanko in the Central region during an installment ceremony in Los Angeles.
She is said to have earned her title as queen mother because of her humanitarian efforts.
In response to her new role, Raye promised the people that she will do her best to support them.
However, in an interview on The Wendy William Show, Lisa Raye who probably did not understand her title confused it as one that makes her “the Queen mother of Ghana".
This blunder did not go down well with many Ghanaians.
3. Michael Jai White
Source: UGC
Hollywood actor, Michael Jai White, was enstooled as ‘Odupong’ of Akwamu Traditional Area by HRM the Akwamuhene Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III – Akwamumanhene.
The title was bestowed on him during his visit to Ghana with other top Black Hollywood celebrities who chose Ghana as a destination for their vacation and to reconnect with their roots.
4. Rita Marley
Source: UGC
Rita Marley known in real life as Alpharita Constantia Anderson, is a renowned reggae artiste and wife of late Reggae music icon, Bob Marley.
The award-winning actress, besides pursuing her artistic career, started to commit herself in solidarity projects in Africa, founding two organisations:
In 2000 Mrs. Rita Marley was enstooled as Nana Afua Adobea (Queen of Development) in Konkonkuru, Ghana.
5. Michael Jackson
Source: UGC
In 1992, he graciously accepted the chieftaincy title of a former Ghanaian group known as the Kingdom of Sanwi. According to reports by mentalfloss.com, a tribal chief insisted that the Popstar descended from the Sanwi royalty and was therefore a king-in-waiting.
The Agni people, reports suggest belong to the Kingdom of Sanwi, which was formerly located in Ghana. Information available shows that it is presently in Cote D’Ivoire after they moved there in 1740.
6.Isaac Hayes
Source: UGC
Isaac Hayes, is a renowned African-American singer of the 1970s, was enstooled the nominal chief for development of the Ada traditional area under the stool name of Nene Katey Ocansey I, in December 1992.
He was a member of the Ocansey Royal Family.
Five years after being enstooled, Hayes returned to Ada and presented a cheque of $10,000 for the construction of a training centre in the town.
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In other news, former president John Dramani Mahama has promised Ghanaians and the clergy that he will complete all projects started by the Akufo-Addo administration when he gets the mandate from Ghanaians in 2020.
The NDC flag bearer said, unlike President Akufo-Addo, his new government will be committed to complete all projects started by the NPP.
John Mahama made the comment when he spoke as the special guest of honor at the 75th-anniversary celebration of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana in the Volta Region.
READ ALSO: YEN.com.gh named best news website in Ghana at National Communications Awards 2019
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Source: YEN.com.gh
