What happens when you return to the land of your ancestry not as a tourist, but to plant roots, build community, and do the work?

In this episode, Ghanaian American consultant and facilitator Akosua shares what it was like to move to Ghana, full of intention and vision, only to be met with the complexity of culture, expectation, and belonging. From navigating assumptions about her Americanness to adjusting her approach to leadership and community-building, Akosua walks us through the learning, the listening, and the letting go that comes with returning to a place you’ve never quite lived, but always carried.

We talk about diasporic identity, spiritual and cultural integration, code-switching across continents, and how true community takes shape when you stop assuming and start observing. Akosua reminds us that humility is a skill, gratitude is cultural, and belonging is something we build, not just something we expect.

Guest: Akosua

Episode Overview

00:00 Introduction to Tea and Transitions

00:19 Today's Tea and Topic: Community Building

03:54 Guest Introduction: Meet Akosua

04:20 Icebreaker Game

09:18 Akosua’s Journey: From the Bay Area to Ghana

14:56 Navigating Cultural Differences in Community Building

26:25 Advice for Women of Color in Transition

30:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Show Notes

Akosua is the Founder of Dua Pa, an organisation which that supports the next generation of change makers by providing HR and business development consulting services in Ghana. Her latest venture, &Spice, is an agriculture development company that focuses on trading along the agric value chain. She focuses on building community by connect stakeholders and young women who are seeking to make impact. She is passionate about helping underserved people and children find opportunities to grow. When not working, she enjoys learning new dances, drinking tea and doing art projects to relax.