Tanko, a Ghanaian living in Berlin, Germany, has opened up about the harsh realities of life abroad in an emotional interview. Despite being in Europe for several years, he says things have not worked out, and he now feels the urge to return home—even if it means becoming an okada rider in Ghana. Unfortunately, his family keeps discouraging him from coming back.
“I’ve really tried in Germany, but I’m not achieving anything,” Tanko shared. “I’ve tried getting legal documents (nkrataa) four times. Even when I got a genuine one, the money I was making wasn’t enough. By the time you receive your salary, pay rent, send some money to Ghana, you’re left with nothing.”
Tanko used to work under someone else’s nkrataa for almost two years until December, when the owner asked for it back to give to his brother-in-law. Since then, things went downhill. He was home for two weeks without work, then got introduced to another black job (illegal work), which also required legal documents.
He picked up work on a construction site, but this summer, they laid the workers off, claiming they wanted to hire their own people during the warmer season. “They haven’t paid our last two salaries,” Tanko lamented. “And I’m also living in a rented apartment. Things are hard.”
Tanko explained how tough it is for undocumented migrants in Germany. “You can’t even go to the hospital with someone else’s documents. I recently used my last savings to pay rent. I’ve been home for over a month.”
At this point, he’s considering returning to Ghana to ride an okada for survival. “Germany is all about nkrataa,” he said. “Even those who have documents struggle. Some are on social welfare and work illegally, leaving fewer job opportunities for people who genuinely want to work.”
He has two children in Ghana living in a house he built from his hard-earned savings.
“I haven’t seen my children in over six years. They always tell me they miss me. My wife is not in Ghana either. If you know someone abroad who wants to come back home, pray for them and support them,” he pleaded.
Tanko also warned others against falling for fake travel opportunities. “A friend told me he wants to pay €7,000 to come to Germany. I told him not to make that mistake. I’ve been through it all—I even paid €7,000 two or three times before and still faced the same struggles.”
He recounted traveling to Austria and Spain before returning to Germany, only to find out how difficult life in those countries can be too. “In Austria, the controls are even stricter than in Germany. They tracked one guy’s address after a document check, so I had to escape. They check documents thoroughly, and the language barrier is tough—just like in Spain. Without Spanish, you can’t get hired.”
Before migrating, Tanko had a job and ran a business for 13 years in Ghana. He used his business savings to build a small house and fund his journey abroad. Now, with his dreams crumbling, he reflects: “If I knew then what I know now, I would have stayed in Ghana.”
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