Ben Agyei, a Ghanaian truck driver who has lived in Tel Aviv, Israel, for 25 years, recently shared his dramatic migration story and life experiences in an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa. He noted that life in Israel has generally been peaceful since the ceasefire, although rumors of possible missile attacks still linger.
Ben’s path to Israel was not a conventional one. While growing up in Ghana, he lived in places like Akwatia, Kade, and Accra. His maternal brother once took him to Côte d’Ivoire to sell shoes, but it was his paternal relatives who facilitated his migration to Israel.
Recalling the journey, he said:
“We transited through Cairo, Egypt, and were told we’d be heading to the airport—but instead, we were packed into pickup trucks covered with tarpaulins and driven through the desert.”
Ben was part of a group of eight Ghanaians—five men and three women—making the perilous trip. They spent two grueling weeks in the desert, where dangers were many:
“Some people died, and we even saw human skulls along the way. We made four failed attempts before finally making it through. Some women in other groups were raped, but in ours, we resisted.”
He said they were threatened with guns if they didn’t cooperate. Eventually, they made it to Israel, exhausted and filthy:
“My clothes were dirtier than a galamsey worker’s,” he recalled.
Ben quickly found work in hotels upon arrival, working as a steward and later as a supervisor. He applied for asylum and began learning Hebrew. After leaving the hospitality industry, he transitioned to construction and then to truck driving. Today, he owns and operates his own truck, transporting aluminum, domestic goods, and other items.
“If you don’t have legal documents (nkrataa), you can’t move freely here. Life is better when you have the right papers,” he emphasized.
He warned fellow Ghanaians about overworking themselves:
“Those doing double jobs to build houses in Ghana should also save for their casket. Double shifts lead to early graves. If you’re single, you can hustle hard for a while, but know your limits.”
Ben also addressed the challenges he faced from fellow Ghanaians in Israel, especially after marrying an Israeli woman:
“Some Ghanaians were jealous and even snitched on me to my wife. One almost tried to kiss her when I stepped out briefly. That’s why I no longer trust Ghanaians easily.”
He’s now very cautious, saying:
“If I work with a Ghanaian, I’ll use Bluetooth to pick calls so they don’t hear my private conversations.”
He brought his wife to Ghana in 2005 and said she had a traumatizing experience:
“She was robbed at gunpoint, lost her bags and phones. She said if she ever returns to Ghana, we’ll need security. And now we have five children to think about.”
His wife, Maa Adwoa, also shared her perspective:
“I married him when I had just joined the army. My family accepted him and loved him. He’s 12 years older than me. My friends were jealous because he was kind and observed the Sabbath.”
Ben pointed out cultural differences between Africans and Israelis:
“In Ghana, people are loud in church and pray with noise. Israelis don’t do that. They don’t have time to make noise in worship centers like we do back home.”
He hopes to return to Ghana one day and is already working on a building project. He has five children and is focused on giving them a stable future.
He also recalled the dark times when undocumented migrants were pressured to expose others to gain legal status:
“Back in 2004, people got deported because they refused to give up names. Some had to ‘sell out’ four others just to get their documents.”
DJ Nyaami also spoke with Agyei’s Israeli wife, Maadwoa, who recounted her traumatic experience during a visit to Ghana.
“My experience in Ghana was terrible. Armed robbers pointed guns at me and took my bags, phones, and other belongings,” she said. “Next time, if I return to Ghana, I will need security. We’re also planning to bring our five children along.”
She went on to speak about her relationship with Agyei:
“I married my husband shortly after I joined the army. My family accepted and really loved him, even though he was 12 years older than me. Some of my friends were jealous, but I didn’t care,” she added, noting that Agyei observes the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) as part of their family’s lifestyle.
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