America Is Modern-Day Slavery for Africans – Ghanaian Returnee Shares His Story
David, a Ghanaian who once lived in the United States, has now returned home and says he has no desire to live abroad again. Appearing on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami, he shared that his first trip to America was for a medical conference and also to see “how abroad is.” Although he had traveled to other countries before, it was his first time in the U.S.
According to David, his intention was never to stay permanently. However, after publicly saying that many Ghanaians abroad are overworked like “modern-day slaves,” he faced backlash, with some people calling him lazy. David, who sells medical equipment, explained that while America might favor white people, black immigrants—especially Africans—often end up working two jobs a day like “horses,” compared to the standard 8-hour shifts Americans enjoy.
He believes the U.S. system is designed to overwork immigrants, leaving them little time for family or relaxation. Even after obtaining a green card, David said, one remains a “third-class citizen,” with restrictions like not being able to stay in Ghana for more than a year and still having to file U.S. taxes.
He recalled a case where a GT Bank manager from Ghana migrated to the U.S., married an African American woman, and paid her GH₵300,000 for papers—on top of lawyer fees—only to still face limitations.
David also shared a personal incident where a Ghanaian woman in the U.S. falsely accused him of inappropriate behavior toward her daughter. He claims the accusation could have landed him in jail if he hadn’t confronted her, leading to his eviction in the middle of the night. He then moved in with another Ghanaian in Columbus, Ohio, who charged him double rent.
Before traveling to America, David sold all his cars. But since returning to Ghana, he’s bought two cars outright without credit, and his business is thriving. “Even if Donald Trump gave me a free house and car to live in America, I wouldn’t go,” he said. “I’ll only visit for holidays. If I had stayed abroad, I’d probably be dead by now.”
He says he knows three friends in the U.S. who are begging him to buy them tickets to return to Ghana. According to him, many people abroad are jobless, and if you travel without proper information or the right host, “the system will trap you.”
David advises young people to travel only for visits or short-term opportunities, not to settle permanently unless they have a clear plan. “You can make it anywhere in the world,” he said, citing examples of Ghanaians succeeding in countries like Qatar. He argues that while America markets itself well, it hides its poverty and rough living conditions, while Africa is often unfairly portrayed as entirely poor.
“Africa is the best place to live,” David concluded. “All the rich people I know live in Ghana. I can even arrange medical conference tickets for those who want to travel to America—but go, see, and come back. Don’t get stuck there.”
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