Amanda Ofori, a Ghanaian based in Coventry, United Kingdom, shared her emotional life story on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami.
Amanda, who grew up in Kronum in the Ashanti Region, revealed that she left Ghana 26 years ago after marriage took her to the Netherlands. At age 27, she was introduced to her husband through his father, who arranged for their marriage and sent her abroad to join him.
“When I met my husband, he was tall, handsome, and looked like a good man. But after marriage, I realized he was very domineering — the typical ‘Kumasi man’ who believes once he marries you, you must do exactly as he says,” Amanda recounted.
Despite the challenges, Amanda stayed in the marriage for 21 years. The couple had three children but lived in what she described as a loveless and controlling relationship.
“We lived in the same house, shared the same bed, but emotionally, we were far apart. It felt like bondage,” she said.
Over time, tragedy struck — Amanda’s mother, her mother-in-law, and her father-in-law (who had arranged the marriage) all passed away. Their deaths became a turning point for her.
“When the three people who would have pressured me to stay in the marriage died, I realized I needed my freedom,” she explained. “I told him I wanted to bring our children to the UK, and he agreed. I came first, settled, and later brought the kids. From there, we peacefully went our separate ways.”
Amanda and her ex-husband never officially divorced but have lived separately for years. She describes their separation as mutual and respectful.
Reflecting on her experience, Amanda advised women to truly know their partners before marriage — especially those arranged or long-distance unions.“If my husband and I had met and dated properly, we wouldn’t have married,” she said. “Most men abroad marry women from Ghana without considering compatibility — and that’s why many of these marriages fail.”
Now happily living in Coventry, Amanda says she has moved on and is currently in a relationship but has no plans of marrying again.
“When I first came abroad, white men used to chase me because I was young and beautiful,” she laughed. “But life teaches you to value peace and freedom more than anything else.”
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