Family Ties

Current Destination: Accra, Ghana

Next Destination: Amman, Jordan

My parents introduced me to travel at a young age. I learned to walk in Trinidad & Tobago while visiting my uncle — a professor at the University of the West Indies. This wanderlust spread to my two siblings. Once we finished school, we each moved to different parts of the globe. This makes family reunions a logistical nightmare, especially over the last several years.

Although I’ve been excited about this global trek, the prospect of a family reunion had me giddy. Seeing my mom, dad, two sisters, and my own family together under one roof was a dream come true. And where better to gather than our ancestral land, Ghana?

Ghana might lack South Africa's stunning landscapes, but it more than makes up for it with its friendliness. Articles claim Ghana is among the friendliest places on Earth, and I wholeheartedly agree, bias included. From the moment we landed, the immigration officer joked with us testing our knowledge of Ghanaian food, our understanding of the local language Twi (pronounced "chwee"), and questioning why we were only staying two weeks. She even warned the girls not to eat all the Ghanaian food and leave some for the rest of the country to enjoy. After an eight-hour flight from South Africa, with a brief stopover in Johannesburg, we were eager to step into Ghana’s warm sun and escape Cape Town’s “winter.”

Father’s Day is always special, but this year was particularly so as I celebrated with my girls and my dad. It had been over 20+ years since I celebrated with him in person. To beat Accra’s heat, we headed to a pool, splashed around, stuffed our faces, and drank to our hearts' content. A fantastic start to our stay in a country that is my second home.

Visiting Ghana, my parents' birthplace, at least half a dozen times, always fills me with nostalgia. I'm amazed at how well I understand and remember the local language and mannerisms, which I love to mimic for the kids. Canada is home, but Ghana is in my blood. I enjoy catching up with uncles and aunties who regale me with stories of my childhood. One tale involved me refusing to walk home from the market, fearing the rampant goats and chickens would eat me alive. My cousin who had to carry me home - and to this day - reminds me that I was the initial cause of his back problems!

Ghana has made strides with foreign investment from its diaspora, including my parents who enjoy part-time retirement there. Most of my cousins have moved abroad but maintain strong ties to their birthplace. However, there’s still much to be done to improve the country's infrastructure, like roads, electricity, and clean water. Visiting reminds me how fortunate I am to live in a prosperous country that allows for my frequent visits. I often wonder how my life would differ if I lived here. Who would I be? What would I aspire to? What would I have done? As a first-generation Canadian of Ghanaian descent, I often ponder what my role in helping Ghana achieve its full potential could be.

There are quirks to adjust to with life in Ghana. Always use your right hand for everything. When entering a room, greet people from the right and always shake hands with your right hand—trust me, the left hand is traditionally reserved for, let’s say, more "unsanitary" tasks. Proper greetings are essential; no launching into conversations without a genuine "good morning" and "how are you?" One quirky thing we enjoy is the hawkers at traffic lights selling everything from gum to art to puppies. The girls were desperate to bring a puppy home, but I had to remind them we still have a couple of months left on this trip. Plus, a traveling puppy would make for quite the customs headache!

Names hold special value, too; each child is named based on the day they’re born. For instance, my Ghanaian name is Kwesi (pronounced "Kway-see") because I’m a boy born on Sunday. Janice is Afua (pronounced "Ah-foo-wah") because she’s a girl born on Friday, like Ayana. The former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan was a boy born on Friday. It’s hard to believe but one-seventh of the Ghanaian population shares the same name! Besides day-based names, many have English or Christian names in addition to also being named after a family member. For example, Kasia is named after my mom in the traditional Ghanaian sense—her Ghanaian name is Adjoa Obiri (pronounced "Ah-jew-wah Oh-bur-ree"). It’s complicated but fascinating.

A highlight was spending the day with my dad’s sister, Aunty Afua. Having lost both his brothers over the last several years, I cling to her for insights into my dad and grandparents, having only met my paternal grandmother. She’s the polar opposite of my dad: extroverted, opinionated, and direct, while he’s soft-spoken, introverted and reflective. She shared stories of my dad teasing her and always looking for ways to skip school, which surprised me since he always emphasized education, crediting his mom for encouraging his studies.

Spending time with my cousins, who are around my age, was very enjoyable. Many have lived abroad and now reside in Ghana. Janice and I loved hearing their perspectives on life in Ghana. We threw a big party with 60 people to catch up with everyone at once, avoiding individual household visits. This can be overwhelming, especially since my mom is the second youngest of 11 kids who all act, yell, and laugh the same way. I now know where I get my loud hyena like laugh from. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The trip to Ghana to have my family under one roof was a profound experience. As I watched my girls tease my dad—Papa—or learn to sew thanks to Grandma, I realized the fleeting nature of these moments. With everyone’s busy lives and my parents aging, these gatherings will become increasingly rare. It made me acutely aware of the importance of cherishing each moment, recognizing the deep roots and shared history that bind us. The laughter, stories, and simple joys we shared reminded me of the immense value of family and heritage. As I sat quietly, taking it all in, I felt a profound gratitude for this opportunity to connect, reflect, and appreciate the intricate tapestry of our lives, woven together across continents and generations.

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