Alex Gyamfi on Life Abroad and the Ghanaian Mindset
Alex Gyamfi, a Ghanaian based in the United States, is a regular guest on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide with DJ Nyaami.
He recently shared his thoughts on life abroad, the struggles of Ghanaians in the diaspora, and misconceptions about wealth overseas
“I never liked Trump because I thought he wanted to deport people. However, he has mainly focused on arresting criminals and scammers, not just deporting everyone. People initially felt scared, but now we understand his approach.”
Many Ghanaians assume that traveling abroad automatically leads to financial success, but Alex believes this is a flawed mindset.
“People think that once you travel, you’ve ‘made it,’ but that’s not true. Most Ghanaians here work two or more jobs just to build a house back home. Does that make them rich? I thank God for the little I have, which allows me to send money to others, but it hasn’t been easy.”
He also shared a story about an elderly Ghanaian woman who has lived in the U.S. for 35 years without proper residency documents and still struggles to make ends meet. “She came here at 30, and now she’s 65, still working hard to assist people back home. That tells you it’s not all rosy.”
Alex advised that without proper documentation, life abroad can be extremely tough. He criticized a recent trend where some Ghanaians come abroad and immediately start insulting prominent figures like Otumfuo and the Ghanaian president for attention.
“One guy recently arrived and started insulting Otumfuo and the president, and people are praising him. Meanwhile, he doesn’t even have legal documents or a place to stay. Ghanaians should advise themselves.”
He also emphasized the importance of skill acquisition and career development.
“When I first came here, I was earning $23 per hour, but I quit and took a job for $17 per hour to complete a course. Within seven months, I got a better job. Now, I am an operations manager and the third in command at my workplace. I supervise white employees. If you come abroad, don’t just do menial jobs—take courses and secure a well-paying job.”
According to Alex, many people struggle to afford migration.
“Some people pay agents $35,000 to $45,000 just to travel. Most people don’t have that kind of money. If you can eat three square meals a day in Ghana, you’re not poor, but you’re not rich either. No rich person does multiple labor-intensive jobs to survive.”
He urged Ghanaians to stop making unfair comparisons between Ghana and America.
“America gained independence in 1776, while Ghana gained independence in 1957. The U.S. is 181 years older than Ghana, so we shouldn’t expect the same level of development overnight. Ghana will be better with time.”
Alex also debunked the idea that wealthy Ghanaians live abroad.
“I did my research, and the top 20 richest people in Ghana don’t live abroad. The so-called ‘boga’ lifestyle is an illusion. If you have a good job and stable income in Ghana, don’t rush to move abroad—just visit.”
He also shared a personal experience about trust issues among Ghanaians.
“I once sent money to a friend to buy a car for Uber, and he squandered the money. I had to get him arrested before he repaid me. Ghanaians need to stop such dishonest behavior.”
Alex concluded by advising Ghanaians to be realistic about migration.
“People come abroad illegally and struggle. A former student of mine, who completed his master’s degree, relocated to the U.S. and was lucky to get documents to work. But he’s been here for eight months and is still living in a hotel because he barely earns enough to survive. If you don’t have the right opportunities lined up, don’t rush to travel.”
His message is clear: moving abroad is not a guaranteed path to riches. Instead, Ghanaians should focus on self-development, financial discipline, and making informed decisions about migration.
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