It was a moment of drama outside the Accra International Airport (AIA) when a Ghanaian man who had returned from abroad was unexpectedly surrounded by traditional rulers and enstooled as chief.

In a video sighted by GhanaWeb on September 28, 2026, the man, identified as Ghanaian US-based Marine veteran and philanthropist Erwin Boateng, was carrying his bags and leaving the airport when a group of men suddenly rushed towards him and held him tightly.

The situation appeared to have surprised the man, who looked visibly confused and seemed unsure of what was happening after he was held.

An elderly woman dressed in traditional cloth then poured powder on his head, a practice associated with enstoolment in some Ghanaian traditions, as drumming and celebrations continued.

Boateng was subsequently carried shoulder-high and placed in a car parked at the airport premises.

Some of the young men and women who had accompanied the traditional rulers could be seen singing and celebrating as the ceremony continued.

Foreign celebrities enstooled as chiefs in Ghana

Erwin Boateng is said to be the founder of Quality Health Africa and has lived and studied in several countries, including Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and the United States.

Boateng has assisted in the construction of hospitals in Ghana, participated in medical missions across Africa and conducted medical screenings in rural communities in the country.

Watch the videos below:

@ghkwakudaily LIVE UPDATES: Ghanaian-born U.S. Marine veteran and philanthropist Erwin Boateng has been unexpectedly enstooled as a chief upon his return to Ghana. After serving in Afghanistan and building healthcare and youth initiatives through Quality Health Africa, Boateng now begins a new chapter of traditional leadership and community service. #fyp ♬ original sound - ghkwaku

@ghkwakudaily LIVE UPDATES: Ghanaian-born U.S. Marine veteran and philanthropist Erwin Boateng has been unexpectedly enstooled as a chief upon his return to Ghana. After serving in Afghanistan and building healthcare and youth initiatives through Quality Health Africa, Boateng now begins a new chapter of traditional leadership and community service. #fyp #foryoupage❤️❤️ ♬ original sound - ghkwaku

@ghkwakudaily Joy and excitement filled the Accra International Airport as traditional leaders and well-wishers gave a grand welcome to newly enstooled Chief Erwin Boateng. 🇬🇭👑 Ghanaian-born Erwin Boateng is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He served in the U.S. military and later founded Quality Health Africa, a nonprofit focused on improving healthcare in underserved communities across Africa. His work has included healthcare outreach and the provision of medical supplies to communities such as Bosuso in Ghana’s Eastern Region. Now, after years of service abroad and community-focused work, Boateng has returned home to take on a new role in traditional leadership. #fyp ♬ original sound - ghkwaku