Young Mickson, a Ghanaian based in the United States, shared his migration experience in an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show.
According to him, if someone has £35,000, they do not necessarily need to go through a connection man to travel abroad. He stressed that success overseas often depends on the host who receives you, noting that many Ghanaians abroad (“borgas”) have not always been truthful about the reality.
He explained that Abrokyire is not overhyped, but it is undoubtedly a hustling ground. Mickson advised that many Ghanaians sell their lands and spend between GHC100,000–200,000 on travel agents, only to arrive abroad and realize it could take them over 10 years to build a house similar to what they could have done in Ghana. He believes illegal immigrants should be allowed to work peacefully, as most of them are only striving to provide for their children.
Sharing a family story, he revealed that his cousin once wanted to migrate to America but earned GHC22,000 monthly in Ghana. He warned that such people should not make the mistake of comparing salaries directly with exchange rates, because abroad, bills and deductions are heavy. For instance, someone earning $40–$70 an hour may seem well-off, but much of it goes into expenses.
Mickson also recounted a situation where a friend in England paid £35,000 for a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS), moved there, but ended up struggling. That friend was once a bank manager in Ghana but regretted relocating after his wife convinced him to travel.
On education, Mickson emphasized that Ghana’s system is very tough, and many parents pay as much as $40,000 in school fees abroad. He believes that instead of spending so much money on foreign education, parents could invest those funds into a business for their children in Ghana. Otherwise, many students risk becoming illegal immigrants if they fail to secure proper documentation (nkrataa).
He further urged Ghanaians to embrace farming and self-sufficiency, saying:
> “Let’s grow what we eat and eat what we grow. Too much pride is killing us.”
Finally, Mickson said he has no plans to retire abroad. Once his children reach college level, he intends to return to Ghana permanently, even if it means giving up his foreign passport.
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