“I Tried Ghana Army 3 Times — Today I Work as an IT Specialist in the U.S. Army”: Ghanaian Man Shares His Journey From Spintex Laborer to Cybersecurity Analyst
A Ghanaian man, Kweku, now based in the United States, has shared the extraordinary story of how he moved from humble beginnings in Accra to becoming an IT Specialist and Cybersecurity Analyst with the U.S. Army. Speaking on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami, he revealed how his dream of becoming a soldier—once rejected in Ghana— eventually came true abroad.
Kweku left Ghana about 15 years ago, but his journey has taken him across the world. Through his work, he has travelled to Belgium, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, France, Romania, Poland, and Denmark before finally settling in America.
Growing up in Ghana, Kweku’s dream was simple: he wanted to be a soldier. Even in primary school at Osu Presby, he added the nickname “Commander” to his name. After school, he worked as a laborer on the Spintex Road and later taught in a private school. During this period, he saved money from working as a teacher.
When the Ghana Armed Forces opened recruitment, he applied in 2001, 2002, and 2003 — but unfortunately, he was never selected.
After his third attempt, he enrolled in the University of Cape Coast for distance education while still teaching. Around the same time, a friend introduced him to Facebook, and his brother helped him create an account. Through Facebook, he met a pen pal who would later change his life.
According to him:
“She asked what I wanted to do in life. I told her I wanted to be a soldier, but if not, I’d love to lecture at a training college.”
The pen pal visited Ghana, spent six days, and eventually invited Kweku to America. Although he had no passport or knowledge of traveling at the time, he eventually made the journey.
Life in the U.S. started humbly. He worked at McDonald’s, noting that many people quit after their first paycheck, but he stayed and worked full-time to save. He worked at Goodwill during the day and McDonald’s at dawn.
One day, he saw an advertisement on TV for recruitment into the U.S. Army and decided to try again. This time, he was accepted. He later went through technical training and also trained as a food inspector (68R). His performance earned him an Army Certificate of Academic Brilliance.
Kweku suffered an injury at a point but continued to pursue his goals. He returned to Ghana once, proudly wearing his ceremonial military uniform to thank God for how far he’d come.
Inspired by the one who brought him abroad—whom he calls “Obroni”—Kweku pushed himself further. He went back to school, earned a degree, and completed eight IT certifications. He then moved to the Navy before later joining the U.S. Air Force. Today, he works as an IT Specialist and Cybersecurity Analyst.
Kweku is now married to a Ghanaian, owns a home in the U.S., and has children. He also shared advice for young Ghanaians considering traveling:
“Mechanics, plumbers, and AC technicians make a lot of money abroad. A plumber can make $55 an hour. If I knew I would end up in America, I would have learned a skill.”
He added that life in Europe, especially in Holland, can be expensive, but many people there are still doing well.
Watch The Video Below;
About The Author
