Richard, popularly known as Oja, is a Ghanaian currently living in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada—near Vancouver, where a large Ghanaian community resides. He moved to Canada in early 2023 and has lived there for two years and two months.
Before relocating, Richard lived in Kasoa, Ghana. He worked with the National Identification Authority (NIA) and participated in the Annual Income and Expenditure Survey. The job took him across various regions in Ghana, including long stints during holidays like Christmas. He recalls how challenging it was being away from family, especially as someone not used to constant travel.
Richard originally planned to move to Canada through an uncle, but that didn’t materialize. Later, a cousin in Germany connected him with a relative in Canada who helped arrange a job opportunity. He entered Canada with a closed work permit—a visa tied to a specific employer—and began working as a painter just a week after arriving. He stayed with his cousins in Butter Bisque for the first 3–4 months and worked with them in the same company, handling painting jobs on high-rise buildings of up to 50 floors.
He notes that life in Canada wasn’t as easy as he initially thought. Although he earns more than he did in Ghana (where he was making GHS 52,000–54,000 annually), the financial responsibilities are heavier. His wife remains in Ghana with their 12-year-old child, and Richard sends money home regularly. Despite not knowing exactly how she uses the funds, he ensures her needs are met.
Because his visa is tied to one employer, Richard can’t take side jobs or work elsewhere. He describes this as limiting, especially compared to those with open work permits who can switch employers more freely. He’s currently working towards obtaining permanent residency so he can gain more freedom and stability.
Richard also experienced housing challenges. He moved from his cousins’ place to a shared apartment with a white landlord, which he described as a difficult and unfair arrangement. He lost his security deposit during the transition. Now living alone, he’s saving to buy a house in Canada—which could take 20 years to pay off. At 36 years old, he envisions owning property both in Canada and back home in Ghana within the next decade.
He attempted to bring his wife and child to join him in Canada, but his initial application was rejected due to lack of sufficient documentation. Despite doing a traditional marriage and living together for over 15 years, immigration officials insisted he didn’t have enough concrete evidence.
Looking back, he acknowledges that while Canada is a land of opportunity, it’s not for the weak. It demands patience, resilience, and long-term planning. He hopes to become financially independent within 10 years, build 2–3 houses in Ghana, and support others through his journey.
He concluded by encouraging people to be realistic about migration, saying: “If you want to come to Canada, make sure you’re mentally prepared. It’s not all rosy. But with focus, you can make it.”
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