Isaac is a Ghanaian currently living in Liverpool, United Kingdom. He has been in the UK for one year and seven months. Born and raised at Kwadaso Agric Junction in Ghana, Isaac attended Alshadai School and Udara Barracks for his basic education, then proceeded to study at Agric in KNUST.
In 2019, after completing university, he landed a job through a connection with Nana , who helped him secure a position with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Sehwi Akontombra. Though he had grown up in the city and never experienced rural life, he was posted to Sehwi, a place he initially feared due to rumors of violence. However, during his time as an agricultural officer, he never encountered such dangers.
While in Sehwi, he got married to a teacher from the Eastern Region. He spent a year there, bought some land, and started building a life. Despite earning modestly, he managed to save a lot because local farmers provided him with food. With his savings, he established a poultry farm with 500 birds actively laying eggs before leaving Ghana for the UK in 2023.
His migration was facilitated by his brother, who informed him of opportunities in the UK. Isaac’s dream was to earn enough money abroad to invest back into commercial farming in Ghana. However, upon arriving in the UK, the reality was far from what he expected.
Life in Liverpool proved difficult. Although he initially planned to stay with an uncle, things didn’t work out, and he ended up in a shared single-room accommodation, burdened with bills. His brother supported him financially for a while, but eventually got tired. Isaac had to rely on money sent from Ghana.
Things started improving when he met a Nigerian handyman who taught him painting and helped him find odd jobs. Isaac avoided most Ghanaian social circles in the UK due to gossip but found solace in City Church Liverpool, which supported him with food and essentials. “If not for the church,” he said, “I would’ve given up.” They even understood the UK’s Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) system and provided him with consistent help.
He has also worked in care homes and is now considering enrolling in a free nursing school to build a stable career. But life has not been easy. He left behind three children in Ghana—two with his wife and one with another woman. The first child’s mother, who is a teacher, once reached out to say she was ill and struggling to pay her rent (around GHC 6,000–7,000 for two years), but Isaac was unable to help. Her phone has been off for three months now, and he has lost contact with her and the child.
“I can’t reach any of her family members. Sometimes I’m left with just £100 after paying my rent. Life here isn’t as glamorous as it looks in pictures,” he shared. Despite everything, Isaac remains hopeful about the future and determined to make something out of his journey abroad.
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