NFL star Ziggy Ansah enstooled as chief in Ghana [Photos]

NFL star Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah has been installed as a development chief by the Akuapem traditional council in his home country of Ghana. The elaborate ceremony was held in the town of Akuapem in the Eastern Region last weekend, MyJoyOnline reports.

The former Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks defensive end was given the stool name, Abrahene (Chief sports advisor) Nana Ansah, by Okuapehene, Ɔseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, the Paramount Chief of Okuapeman.

Ansah, who had his Junior and Senior High School education in Ghana before heading to the United States for college, pledged to build a sports academy for the youth of Akuapem. After the initiation ceremony, the 31-year-old expressed his gratitude and promised to play his part in unearthing and supporting sporting talent in Akropong-Akuapem.

RELATED STORIES

A look at the Mandé people who founded Africa’s great empires with speakers in 9 countries

A look at Boubou, Senegal’s loose-fitting garment worn by both sexes

How Burkina Faso’s ‘School For Husbands’ is turning men to darlings

If we stopped looking at Jesus Christ as white, would that help against white supremacy?

“I see this as an opportunity to reconnect with my history and heritage to give back to the community where I came from,” he said. “The are a lot of sporting talents in Akropong-Akuapem and I intend to harness them all to the benefit of the people and Ghana as a country.”

Currently a free agent, Ansah has been a long-time advocate for the introduction of football in Africa as well as hosting some games on the continent. In 2016, the defensive end, who was then with the Detroit Lions, said on the team’s official website: “I would love to see a game in Africa. That would be good, and I think there’s a lot of potential back in Africa. I know that one day the NFL will have a game out there just like we do in London.”

Ansah enrolled at Brigham Young University in Utah on an academic scholarship in 2008 and played for the BYU Cougars football team. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He moved to the Seattle Seahawks on a one-year deal in 2019.

Take a look at photos of the elaborate initiation below: