Ghanaian in Germany Regrets Relocating, Describes Life Abroad as Overrated and Like a Prison
Emmanuel, a Ghanaian currently living in Dortmund, Germany, shared his experiences on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami. Having spent just four months in Germany, Emmanuel expressed deep regret about leaving Ghana, calling life abroad “overrated” and even likening it to being in prison.
“I sold my car and left a comfortable life in Ghana. I had a shop, sold shoes, and owned three trotro vehicles,” he revealed. “But when I arrived in Germany, that’s when I truly realized what it means to travel. I learned to operate a forklift, but I immediately felt trapped and unhappy.”
Emmanuel believes many Ghanaians living abroad paint a false picture to those back home. “Most of them are struggling but will never tell you the truth. They’ll encourage you to come and claim you can work four jobs and build a house in no time. That’s not the reality. Many are stuck, and some have been here for over a decade without progress.”
Initially arriving in Bremen, Emmanuel shared how loneliness and regret set in.
“I used to look out of the window and feel sad. I was genuinely happier back in Ghana. Now, I feel entangled in this place.”
Eventually, a friend invited him to Dortmund where he got a job in wholesale and logistics—loading containers in a warehouse. “The job is physically draining. I can’t even walk properly now. I had to buy a dozen Aboniki balms to manage the pain,” he said. “I spent GHC125,000 on this trip hoping I’d recover the money, buy back a car, and return to Ghana.”
Despite earning about €1,700 monthly and sending €800 home, Emmanuel says the cost of living—rent, food, and other expenses—leaves him with very little. “If I can gather GHC80,000 to GHC100,000, I’ll go back, buy another car, and restart my business. My wife is also contributing by working, and we’ve made a little progress.”
He warns others in Ghana not to be deceived by the glamorous stories of life abroad. “This kind of job—lagger work—is nonsense. You’ll spend three years just to sort out your documents (nkrataa), and even with documents, getting a decent job is difficult. Some old borgas here are completely wasted.”
Family pressure adds to his frustration. “Now that I’m here, everyone calls me for help. If only they knew. Honestly, if I could deport myself, I would.”
DJ Nyaami also spoke to other workers in similar jobs who echoed Emmanuel’s sentiments—describing the work as extremely hard and wishing for a better life or the chance to return to Ghana.
“Unless you are well-prepared and have solid documents, don’t stress yourself coming here,” Emmanuel advised. “It’s not worth losing your peace and health.”
Watch The Video Below:
https://youtu.be/MhNHKnNDAvA?si=A5yDBDg_yPn07vz1
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