Ernest, a Ghanaian currently living in the Birmingham area of the UK, shared his remarkable journey from Ghana to Europe and how he transitioned from doing menial jobs to becoming a treasury analyst.
He left Ghana in 2019 after securing an opportunity to further his education in Germany. Before moving abroad, Ernest worked at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) after completing his national service there. He studied at Tesano’s Weto Hammansk Pro-Preparatory School, continued to Apam Senior High School (2009–2013), and later earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Cape Coast.
Post-university, he was hired by a Chinese company dealing in home appliances, where he was in charge of marketing and hiring. During this time, the Ghana government introduced the NABCO program, which he also participated in. His uncle, Kofi, advised him to explore universities in Germany offering tuition-free education. With his uncle’s support, Ernest opened a mandatory blocked bank account and secured admission.
Settling in Germany was far from easy. Initially, Ernest stayed with his uncle who supported him for a few months. He had to take up various menial jobs—cleaning homes, working in warehouses, restaurants, and doing table service—just to make ends meet while studying at Hochschule Fulda – University of Applied Sciences. The program lasted three years.
After completing his studies, Ernest obtained a 10-month job-seeking visa. It took him six months to land a full-time role, as he had to find a job relevant to his field of study. Eventually, he secured a position at one of the world’s largest companies in business financial services (BFS), which operates branches globally.
Ernest later moved to the UK to be with his wife, whom he had been in a long-distance relationship with. She was a nurse who couldn’t move to Germany because of the language barrier, so Ernest made the sacrifice and relocated. Thanks to his UK-based master’s qualification, he quickly secured a full-time job as a Treasury Analyst. Previously, he worked as a Treasury Accountant in Germany.
He credits his quick job success in the UK to his German experience and his academic background.
“If I didn’t have my master’s, it would have been much harder. I got the job within two months of relocating,” he shared.
Ernest emphasized that many Ghanaians abroad settle for menial jobs and never push beyond them.
“I know cleaners here with master’s degrees from Ghana. Some are forced into low-paying work due to survival, but I encourage them to take professional courses to move forward,” he advised.
He currently works remotely and rarely visits the office.
“I’ve only been to the office five times this year,” he said, highlighting the flexibility his job now affords him.
Ernest encouraged fellow Ghanaians to be intentional about self-improvement.
“Don’t get too comfortable. Seek information, upskill, and pursue your goals,” he said. He also shared the story of a young Ghanaian in the UK who, although born and raised there, is learning plumbing and plans to add electrical work to his skill set.
For Ernest, it’s about purpose, determination, and refusing to settle.
“If you worked hard in Ghana, carried cement, and hustled, then came abroad with that same mindset, you can succeed.”
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