Kyebi, Eastern Region—Under the supreme auspices of the Okyenhene, His Royal Majesty Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, a historic milestone unfolded in Okyeman as Hon. Edmond Boateng, H.C., Honorary Consul of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the Republic of Ghana and Secretary of the Honorary Consular Corps of Ghana, was formally enstooled as Okyenhene Amanonehene.
The ceremony, which drew an unprecedented turnout of foreign dignitaries, corporate chiefs, and members of the Consular Corps, also served as the grand curtain-raiserser for the highly anticipated 2026 Ohum Festival.
This year’s festival was celebrated under the theme: _”Rejuvenating Our Customs for Sustainability and Nature Connection.”
In the governance structure of the Akyem Abuakwa State, the title Amanonehene carries a profound mandate. Literally translated as the “Chief of the Diaspora” or “Chief of the Lands Beyond”, the stool is designed to serve as a vital institutional bridge between the rich ancestral heritage of Okyeman and the international community.
By elevating Hon. Boateng — a career diplomat defined by international relations, economic diplomacy, and cross-border partnerships — the Okyenhene has effectively institutionalized a direct pipeline for diplomatic and investment tourism into the state.
“The coordinates of global diplomacy have officially aligned with the heart of Okyeman. And for the tourism industry, the journey has just begun,” a statement from the palace noted.
The enstoolment was hailed as a masterstroke for the region’s development, owing to the remarkable pedigree of the new chief.
Hon. Edmond Boateng brings close to three decades of top-tier experience across diplomacy, public policy, and international business. As Honorary Consul of Luxembourg to Ghana, he has spent years positioning Ghana as a prime West African hub for trade, innovation, and diplomacy.
He also served with distinction at the Office of the President of Ghana, coordinating strategic international finance and economic cooperation frameworks.
Academically, he is an alumnus of the University of Ghana and holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations, Politics, and Economics from the UK. His governance expertise is further sharpened by executive training at Harvard Law School in Leadership and Negotiation, and at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of GovGovernment in Oil, Gas, and Mining Governance.
Crucially for his new role, Hon. Boateng is an ardent champion of environmental sustainability. As Founder of the Evimeria Group, President of the EkB Foundation, and a key figure with the African Rainforest Advisory Project, his life’s work aligns directly with Okyeman’s green, eco-conscious vision.
The dual celebration of the enstoolment and the Ohum Festival has immediately cast a global spotlight on Kyebi, marking what observers call a major victory for Ghana’s cultural and eco-tourism agenda.
With Hon. Edmond Boateng, H.C., now taking up his staff of office as Okyenhene Amanonehene, the message to the international community is clear: Ghana’s heritage is not a relic of the past; it is a dynamic, globally connected, and sustainable gateway to the future.
