The humid, warm air embraced me like a long-lost relative as I stepped off the plane in Accra. The smiling, familiar faces that greeted us from the WTIG family cast away any airline frustrations my new colleagues and I faced during the journey. As the satisfaction of reaching my destination engulfed my spirit, an instant surge of joy and a sense of belonging also rushed over me as I, too, embraced this familiar environment.
After Greeting Dela and Uncle T(Tete, Dad), my colleagues and I packed our bags into the two cars that awaited us, and we were off. On our way home, the bustling streets of Accra, of vibrant colors and endless activity filled me with energy. As we made our way through the city, I marveled at how much had changed and yet how much remained the same. There’s something magical about returning to a place where the rhythm of life is so deeply familiar, where the sounds, smells and sights resonate with a part of me that’s always been there, just waiting to be awakened.
Seven years. It has been seven long years since I last set foot in Ghana, the land of my father, the land that my mother fell in love with, that shaped so much of who I am. Every return to Ghana is a pilgrimage, a journey back to the essence of who I am. In times of struggle and the ever-changing world, my Ghanaian roots have grounded me, providing a cultural anchor amidst the complexities of my identity. Ghanaian values were woven into the fabric of my family life—respect for elders, patience, the importance of community, and the unshakeable belief in hard work. These values are indeed a steady drumbeat that have guided my steps. Sadly, these same values can often fade or be forgotten when you live thousands of miles away. In the next two weeks of this trip, I know this drumbeat will strengthen and be renewed as I embrace this journey with an older, wiser soul.
Kwame Cobblah, Dean of Students, history teacher grade 6-8 Carroll School Lincoln, Massachusetts
