Frimpong, a Ghanaian-born man living in Italy, recently shared his experiences in an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show.
Frimpong initially lived in North Kaneshie, Ghana, where he trained as a carpenter and started his career. He later transitioned into the construction industry. Initially, he had plans to move to Kuwait, but that didn’t work out. In 2006-2007, he met an agent in Kumasi who helped him secure a visa to Italy.
He arrived in Italy in 2008. Before traveling, a man he worked for encouraged him, saying his skills were valuable abroad. His brother picked him up upon arrival and helped him obtain his residence permit within a week. However, finding work was difficult at first, and he spent 3-4 years distributing newspapers at supermarket entrances. Many of the people he traveled with moved to Germany, Ghana, and other countries, but he stayed. In November 2011, he finally secured a stable job, which made life much easier.
Frimpong acknowledges that life in Italy is tough, especially for Africans. He believes Ghanaians abroad don’t always support each other by sharing knowledge and opportunities. He also faced financial burdens, including an unexpected gas bill of €6,900, which he refused to pay, insisting he had always settled his bills.
Now, he is considering migrating to another country, such as the U.S. or Canada, to seek better opportunities. Though he is skilled in carpentry, he finds it difficult to work in construction in Italy. He is confident that other countries will offer him better prospects.
Frimpong has built a stable life for himself and his family. His children have grown, and one of his sons is a talented footballer. The boy initially played at Palma Inter Club, scoring 65 goals in half a season, which led to him being picked up by Parma. Frimpong is now searching for a manager to help his son advance his football career.
He has been married since 1990 and says he and his wife have never had a major argument. He believes many marriages abroad fail due to financial stress and negative mindsets. He personally worked hard to process documents and relocate his children and wife abroad, but financial disagreements often lead to marital problems for many immigrants.
According to Frimpong, renting a house in Italy has become difficult for Africans because many landlords believe they don’t pay rent on time. While there are houses available in Palma, many are for sale rather than rent. He also mentioned that mortgage terms in Italy are long—sometimes up to 40 years—which is not practical for someone like him, who is already 50 years old.
Frimpong still visits Ghana occasionally—his last visit was in May of the previous year—but he finds it difficult to return permanently because of the economic situation. He wishes to relocate to the U.S. or Canada for better opportunities.
He admires the healthcare system in Italy but feels the work environment and financial prospects could be better. Although he still has some opportunities in Ghana, he plans to remain abroad a bit longer before making any major moves.
Watch The Video Below:
About The Author
