Kofi — if you see this, your family in Ghana is looking for you

Kofi, my beloved cousin, left Sekondi-Takoradi in 1998. The distance was supposed to be temporary. It wasn't. After losing everything in the flooding, migration was the only path forward. Kofi, then 35, left with the blessing of the whole family. For the first 17 months, we received occasional calls. Kofi was working in laundromats in Manchester and seemed to be doing okay. They talked about sending money home, about eventually bringing us over. The messages suddenly stopped in 2024. We tried everything — calling mutual friends, reaching out to the diaspora community — but no one had recent news. What I miss most is the way they could fix anything with duct tape and determination. Kofi would be around 63 today. heavyset, with a booming laugh and gentle eyes. The holidays are the hardest — their empty chair at the table speaks volumes. Please, if you know anything about Kofi, reach out. Our family back home is waiting.