Yaaya, a Ghanaian living in the United States for 27 years, recently shared her remarkable life story on SVTV Africa’s “Daily Hustle Worldwide” show with DJ Nyaami. Born in Oti Region and raised in Santrokofi Bume, Ghana, Yaaya revealed that her father hailed from Togo. She was part of the last batch of students to complete the A and O-level education system before its transition to the Junior High School (JHS) system.
After completing her Form Four education, Yaaya moved to Accra, where she learned dressmaking from a tailor named Augustine Boateng. Her skills led her to work at Fork and Scissors in Adabraka. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, she began sewing from home, aspiring to work at Makola Market. Her home business quickly evolved beyond simple sewing to include designing and pattern making, eventually leading her to establish a sewing enterprise in South Odorkor.
Life took an international turn when her husband, a teacher, traveled to Botswana. Yaaya joined him there, and they lived in Botswana for a period before relocating to the United States in 1998. “The place was nice, but you needed ‘nkrataa (a local term, possibly referring to a work permit or essential document,)to work there,” she recalled. She continued to sew for a living in Botswana before their move to America.
Upon arriving in the U.S., Yaaya was pregnant with her first child, who was born in America. Despite the new responsibilities, she was determined to pursue education. “I started with high school adult education, and then I began college. I was so determined,” she emphasized. She pursued nursing prerequisites and business studies, raising her children while attending school. Although she initially stopped sewing professionally in the U.S. due to Africans not wanting to pay, she soon completed her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) qualification, assisting nurses in patient care.
Her ambition didn’t stop there. Yaaya went on to nursing school, earning her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification, which significantly increased her salary. A year later, she became a Registered Nurse (RN), passing her board exams and securing a well-paying position. She furthered her education by earning a Bachelor’s in Nursing. “My kids are grown now,” she proudly stated, reflecting on her journey. She highlighted the stark contrast in educational opportunities, noting that while she couldn’t attend university in Ghana, she achieved it for free in America. She believes that associating with educated individuals can inspire one’s own pursuit of knowledge.
Yaaya lives in a predominantly white community, which she noted means she rarely hears about immigration raids. “America has helped me a lot,” she affirmed, grateful for the educational opportunities she received.
DJ Nyaami also spoke with Yaaya’s husband, who shed light on their 28-year marriage, emphasizing their shared values of teamwork, understanding, and transparency. He revealed that unlike some couples, they don’t hide money from each other and have open access to each other’s accounts for their needs.
He believes that financial competition can often lead to marital collapse, especially when the woman earns more. However, their marriage avoids this pitfall. “I take care of mortgages and other expenses,” he explained, adding that if Yaaya needs money, he readily transfers it to her account. He also financially supports his siblings.
The husband mentioned the significant monthly outflow of about $18,000 from their accounts due to various expenses and support. This often leads to disbelief when people, seeing their “big cars,” ask for money and are told they don’t have it readily available.
Having attended government schools in Ghana, he understood the value of education and strongly supported Yaaya’s decision to pursue schooling in America. “I knew she’s a goal-getter,” he said, adding that as a maths and science teacher, he could assist her at home. He expressed immense pride in her achievements, acknowledging that her strong desire was the driving force behind her success. He also noted that Yaaya feels secure in supporting him financially because she trusts him not to misuse funds on “side chicks,” a common concern when husbands are less transparent with money
Yaaya concluded by advising young people to research and educate themselves about opportunities. She encouraged them to explore options for applying to schools in America and coming to the country to study. Her two children have alreadyhc graduated from college and are now working, a testament to the opportunities she embraced.
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