International Day of Families: Time with the Bosomtwe family

Nations in 1993 proclaimed May 15 as International Day of Families to celebrate the importance of families, people, societies and also promote awareness of issues relating to families.

To mark the day, GhanaWeb took a trip to South Odorkor a suburb in Accra to meet the Bosomtwe family and to share a day in their lives.

The couple, Thomas and Gertrude Bosomtwe have been married for eight years and have three children; Ewurabena Asempa Bosomtwe, Joojo Bosomtwe and Ayeyi Appiah Bosomtwe.

According to the head of the family, Thomas Bosomtwe, an Associate Pastor for the Assemblies of God Church, although the Coronavirus pandemic and its attendant need to stay has brought family members together, it has also hindered them from visiting members of their extended families.

Previously, their children had the chance to visit their grandparents during vacation but that has also changed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Currently, most families in Ghana are under self-isolation all in a bid to protect themselves from contracting the virus.

The situation is the same in most parts of the world, children and elderly members of the family now school and work from home.

Despite the busy schedule of parents, it is advisable to spend time with your children in order to build a stronger bond.

Members of the family must be groomed to uphold the values of the family and society at large. “Some of us grew up in homes where there was an aunt, uncle, cousin and other family members around. If you needed something and your parents didn’t have, you could go to them to seek help. If you misbehaved and your parents were not around an uncle or even a family friend could discipline you. These values seem to be eroding and we must go back to it,” Rev. Thomas Bosomtwe advised.

Stable families are considered as the bedrock of society. In Ghana, a child born to his or her parents becomes the responsibility of the entire family. Right from birth, young ones are shaped to uphold the values and culture of the family.

There are several issues associated with the family but it is key to identify the strength and weaknesses of each member of the family. This will help bridge the gap which is a key ingredient to breaking a family’s bond.

Background of International Day of Families

The International Day of Families is observed on May 15 every year. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 with resolution A/RES/47/237 and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families.