A Cultural Therapy Founder and Member of the Royal Society of Asante Culture and History (ROSACH), Mr. Michael Kojo Boakye Appau-Bonsu has encouraged Africans in the Diaspora, especially Ghanaians living abroad to reunite with their roots.
That, he said, will enable them to know about their culture and as well enable them to get closer to their real families.
In an interview with the media he observed that Black descendants of the transatlantic slave trade are technically globally separated distant relatives, who have a collective trauma to deal with, pointing to the Asante’s and the Maroon or Kromanti tribes of Jamaica as an example.
Mr. Michael Kojo Boakye Appau-Bonsu also observed that during the 'Year of Return' in Ghana, many Diasporans refused to visit the Ashanti Region because they were of the belief that it was the Ashantis who sold them into slavery.
The situation, he opined, was a very sensitive topic and common misunderstanding that needs to be discussed peacefully.
He, therefore, said his outfit, which is for Cultural Therapy, was acting as an international counseling tool for those broken families through the use of travel therapy and unique cultural approaches from the likes of Chiefs and culturally aligned psychiatrists and psychologists.
“Cultural therapy is a broader example of family therapy. Black descendants of the transatlantic slave trade are technically globally separated distant relatives, who have a collective trauma to deal with (for example Asante’s and the Maroon or Kromanti tribes of Jamaica). Cultural therapy acts as an international counseling tool for this broken family through the use of travel therapy and unique cultural approaches from the likes of Chiefs and culturally aligned psychiatrists and psychologists.” he said.
He also made it known that an exchange program is in the offing to allow diasporans to discuss difficulties they have discovered abroad and as well how to reunite with their families back home amongst others.
Already, Mr. Michael Kojo Boakye Appau-Bonsu said a Member of ROSACH, who is also the General Secretary of the Ashanti Heritage Movement, Mr. Kwaku Adu Gyamfi Ampofo had gone to Jamaica to reunite with the Maroon tribes, saying that the impact has so far been positive as most of them agreed to go back to their roots.
Meanwhile, he assured the Diasporans that Ghanaians living at home and abroad are one people with love, encouraging them to get involved for a better experience.
"We want Ghanaians in the Diaspora to understand that we are one people and we are from the same place. We are one family and we need to reconnect," he added.
