America-Based Teacher Prophakwa Shares His Journey: “I Was Denied Visa 5 Times, but Now I’m Living My Dream in the U.S.”
America-based Ghanaian educator, Prophakwa, has opened up about his journey from repeated visa denials to finally achieving his dream of living and working in the United States. Speaking as a regular guest on SVTV Africa’s “Daily Hustle Worldwide” show with DJ Nyaami, he shared deep insights into the realities faced by many Ghanaian immigrants studying and working abroad.
According to Prophakwa, moving to the United States for studies can be both a blessing and a challenge depending on one’s course of study and professional choices.
“If people come to the U.S. to study without OPT (Optional Practical Training), they try their best to further their education. Some courses are in high demand, so those who choose wisely get jobs easily. But others who pick the wrong programs struggle to find work,” he explained.
He noted that he personally pursued Education and has since found fulfillment teaching in the U.S. However, he also highlighted the harsh realities of working in racially mixed environments.
“A friend of mine who was a Math teacher got into trouble and was reported for assault just for shouting at a student to keep quiet. He was teaching in a predominantly Black area, but where I teach, most of the students are white, and they behave differently,” he said.
Prophakwa emphasized the importance of networking in America, revealing that it often determines one’s success.
“Networking in America is very important. If you don’t know people, they won’t tell you about opportunities. The Blacks will sometimes ignore you, but the whites show you the way. I have some white friends who are into farming, and I help them sometimes for free,” he said.
His willingness to volunteer and help others has opened doors for him in unexpected ways.
“Some people don’t like volunteering, but when you do free work here, they see you differently. I once played drums for a church, and later they paid my school fees. They even helped me pay my $10,000 insurance,” he revealed gratefully.
Prophakwa, who has lived in America for three years, shared that he often tells his family he’s still a student to reduce the financial pressure from home.
“I told my family I’m a student, so they don’t worry me about sending money. Before I got here, I was denied a visa five times, but I kept pushing. While waiting for the next government posting in Ghana, I sold people’s products online and made commissions. That’s how I paid for my visa fees,” he recounted.
Despite the challenges, Prophakwa says his journey has been worth it. He now lives a stable life in the U.S., grateful for the opportunities that hard work, faith, and perseverance have brought him.
“I call my white friends Akwasi—they’ve really helped us. I thank God for how far I’ve come,” he concluded.
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