Ghanaian Living in the U.S. for 26 Years Shares His Journey and Business Vision for Africa
Joseph Amoani, a Ghanaian based in the U.S., recently appeared on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with Dj Nyaami. Now residing in Cincinnati, Ohio, Joseph shared his life story and journey from Ghana to America, spanning over two decades.
Joseph explained that he left Ghana in 1999 after working for UPS. He is half Akuapem and half Ga. Life was difficult in Ghana, and although moving to the U.S. wasn’t his original plan, his job at UPS allowed him to travel across Europe, including Germany. His company even arranged a passport for him. However, when he found out he was about to be laid off, he smartly used his vacation period to travel to the U.S., hoping to find better opportunities.
He initially settled in New Jersey, but life there wasn’t as rosy as he imagined. Four people shared a single room, and the cost of living was high. He soon lost his job back in Ghana and struggled to find work in the U.S. Eventually, a friend in Atlantic City helped him get a dishwashing job. He recalls how rough it was — despite having his own car and doing well back home, he had to start from scratch.
In 2001, Joseph returned to Ghana for a few months but came back to the U.S. after encouragement from his wife. A friend in Ohio convinced him to relocate there, and since then, he’s lived in Ohio for over 25 years. He found work quickly and began rebuilding his life.
Joseph is an entrepreneur at heart. He registered his first business in Ghana in 1997, selling phones. In 2001, he resumed his business trips to Ghana and now travels there at least twice a year. He brings business ideas and products back to Ghana, including electronics like phones, laptops, Bluetooth speakers, and more. He also started one of the first online shopping platforms and introduced Blue Phones, which performed well for three years.
According to Joseph, although doing business in Ghana has its challenges, the opportunities are immense compared to the U.S., where people live on credit and many struggle financially despite appearances. He stressed that most job opportunities in America are created by individuals, not the government — unlike the assumption many Ghanaians have.
He believes strongly that Ghana and Africa as a whole are fertile grounds for growth.
“If I had invested all this time and money in Ghana, I would have been far more successful,” he said. “If you need a kidney, it’s in Africa. If you want real wealth, it’s in Ghana. Most people here are stuck in the system and don’t retire because of debt.”
Joseph has now expanded his interests. He runs a short-stay apartment business listed on Airbnb and an online store where you can book apartments. He also owns a printing press and is involved in agriculture with four of his friends. Together, they’ve ventured into buying agro-commodities like maize and palm oil.
“My vision is to build something across Africa — Nigeria, Ghana, and beyond,” he said. “The real victory is in agriculture. The money we’re looking for abroad is in Ghana. We must shift our focus.”
He urged fellow Ghanaians abroad to invest wisely and stop blaming the government.
“Success isn’t just about being in America. If you focus on Africa, you’ll become a millionaire.”
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