From Accra Zongo to 25 Years in America — Abena Dentaa Shares Her Journey on SVTV Africa
Abena Dentaa, who has lived in the United States since the year 2000, has shared her emotional life story on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami. Her journey, marked by struggle, resilience, and determination, has touched many viewers.
Growing up in Accra Zongo, Dentaa attended Sacred Heart, Accra High School, and later continued to Kumasi Polytechnic. She initially gained admission to study Agriculture at the University of Ghana, Legon, but realized it wasn’t her passion. Determined to pursue a path in healthcare, she switched to Dispensary Technology at Kumasi Poly.
Her childhood, however, was far from easy. Dentaa revealed that her parents had a one-night encounter which led to her mother’s pregnancy. Because there was no marriage or stable relationship between them, her mother—who was then a student—faced harsh struggles while raising her alone. Her father also wanted to travel abroad, leaving her mother to fend for herself and the baby.
Growing up without her father created a deep emotional void. She never met him until the age of 17, a moment she describes as exciting yet overwhelming. “He walked up to me one day and said he was my dad,” she recalled. After their families discussed it, she was finally handed over to him and took his surname.
When she later joined him in the United States, her father did everything he could to support her. But the gap created by years of absence was still there. Living with her stepmother made things even tougher. She had to babysit her step-siblings and eventually learned to survive on her own.
“When they bring you abroad, you come with your own agenda, and they also have theirs. And sometimes those agendas conflict,” she said.
She dreamed of becoming a pharmacist, but navigating the American system as a young immigrant wasn’t easy. She worked as a cashier and also did live-in caregiving jobs just to survive. While living away from home during her live-in job, the pressure eased, giving her space to think clearly about her future.
Determined to change her life, she applied to college. To her surprise, she received a full scholarship. She later pursued a six-year pharmacy program that leads to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. From that moment, she moved to campus, never returning to live at her father’s house—though she continued to visit him.
Reflecting on her journey, she explained:
“Your level of stress will determine the kind of work you do. If you want quick money, you will choose stressful jobs. But if you go to school, you can earn more with less pressure.”
Today, Abena Dentaa is proudly married to a Ghanaian man. She met her husband in 2001, at a time when she was struggling and focused on her education. Their friendship grew into love, and after many years of supporting each other, they got married. The couple has now been happily married for two years.
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