Ziggy, a Ghanaian now living in Toronto, Canada, shared his story during an interview on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami.
He moved to Canada in 2003 after completing high school in Bibiani, Western North Ghana, and attending Kumasi St. Benedict for mining studies. His father, a teacher, had already migrated to Canada in the 1990s. After finishing school, Ziggy did a short management course and joined his father abroad, without ever working in Ghana.
Currently, Ziggy holds a decent job in Canada. He reflected on some misconceptions people have about life abroad, especially regarding healthcare. While medical checkups in Canada are free, the medications are often very expensive if you don’t have health insurance. Many companies don’t even provide insurance for part-time or contract workers.
Ziggy also shared how the cost of living has skyrocketed. Today, renting a basement in Toronto costs around $1,500, and a regular flat can go for $2,200–$2,500. He lives in a house his father bought years ago, and he used to pay $3,000 monthly in rent before moving back in with his dad. When he first arrived, basement rent was as low as $400.
He used to work as a DJ at parties, but due to rising insecurity and gun violence, he now keeps a low profile. Gang violence in Toronto has become a serious issue. Teenagers between 13 and 15 years old carry guns, commit carjackings, and engage in crime. Police once recovered over 100 firearms from teens. Ziggy says it’s now common for kids to pull a gun on you and take your car.
Ziggy noted that many immigrants who came during the COVID-19 period either went straight into caregiving jobs or relied on government support. Some paid agents who promised work or school opportunities, but many were disappointed. People with postgraduate degrees can sometimes land roles as supervisors or managers, but it’s not guaranteed. Some nationalities, like Indians, have found success because they follow the system closely and get support.
However, those who overstay or violate immigration rules risk deportation. Postgraduate permits come with strict requirements, and if you fail to renew or follow up with school or permanent residency applications, you could be sent back. According to Ziggy, “Canada is not a joke.”
He touched on social issues too. He says legalizing marijuana isn’t the biggest problem; it’s the rise in gang culture. “The place is sweet, but everything is hard,” he said. Despite the economic benefits, there’s no time to rest, and crime is rampant.
Ziggy used to be a big shopper—he owns over 1,000 pairs of shoes—but says now he can’t even sell them outside. Looking back, he believes Ghana is beautiful and full of opportunity if you’re willing to work hard. “If you want to wash cars abroad, just do that in Ghana,” he said, warning people over 50 that migrating at that age is often a waste of time.
He also shared a personal experience: when he got his first $600 paycheck and wanted to buy a phone, he was told he needed a credit card—cash wasn’t accepted. His family advised him to go get credit even though he had money. He warned that if you’re over 45 or 50, it becomes hard to get hired unless someone supports you financially.
Ziggy advised young people to migrate legally if they must. He shared the story of a man who taught agriculture and wrote books to fund his schooling in Ghana. That man eventually moved to England, then to Canada, through a well-planned process.
Ziggy criticized how Ghanaians often focus too much on materialism. “We want iPhone 17 without thinking. We love fashion and pleasure more than research,” he said. “We need to use our brains more.”
He added that social media is full of fake lifestyles—people post photos in downtown Toronto in front of big office buildings they can’t even enter. He described how newcomers sometimes sleep in crowded rooms infested with bedbugs. One person brought to Canada was so shocked by the living conditions that she asked when they were going to “Canada,” not realizing she was already there.
In conclusion, Ziggy says Canada can work if you’re focused and come through the right channels. But life abroad is not as glamorous as TV and social media make it seem. You’ll need to work hard for at least the first year, and even then, success is not guaranteed.
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