Kwame Abrokwah, a Ghanaian who formerly lived in the United Kingdom and later relocated back to Ghana, has shared his emotional and eye-opening story on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle GH show with DJ Nyaami.
Kwame revealed that from childhood, he had always dreamed of travelling to the UK, especially because his sister was already living there. Before travelling, he had some money and was running a shop and a barbering business in Ghana. When the opportunity finally came, he travelled to the UK with high hopes of a better life.
According to him, life in the UK was far from what many people imagine. He explained that while some foreigners were allegedly using fake documents to work, he survived by doing menial jobs such as cleaning and bakery work. At one point, he worked extremely long hours at a bakery and later had to move out to live on his own.
Kwame said life became tougher when he fell sick. He began experiencing severe pain around his eyes and sought help from people he once supported, including former colleagues from his barbering shop, but they were unwilling to help him. He explained that living in the UK without proper documents (“nkraata”) makes survival extremely difficult, especially in cities like London where jobs are scarce and competition is high.
He disclosed that due to family misunderstandings, he left his sister’s home. Although his sister herself was unemployed and had unresolved issues in her marriage, Kwame still worked small jobs to support her, including paying some of her expenses. Eventually, he applied for asylum, which restricted him from working, worsening his financial situation.
Kwame recounted traumatic experiences, including an incident where some individuals nearly harmed him after offering him a lift. He was later arrested and transferred to London under the claim that he was being taken to Heathrow Airport. He described the UK as a city designed for safety, yet very unforgiving for those without stable status.
Eventually, Kwame was deported to Ghana. He revealed that when he returned, he came back almost empty-handed. A cousin gave him £100 to help him travel, and by the time he arrived in Ghana, he had only £240, the clothes he was wearing, and a single T-shirt.
“When you are working under pressure abroad, the stress is too much, and the pay is small,” he said. Despite the hardship, he managed to earn some money while in detention before his return, but life after returning to Ghana was still very difficult.
Kwame used his story to advise young people planning to travel abroad. According to him, travelling without skills, education, or proper documentation is dangerous. He stressed that anyone planning to travel should either go to school, acquire a skill, or learn a trade that can sustain them abroad.
“If you are coming abroad, you need a skill or education. If you don’t have any skill, learn one before you travel,” he advised.
Kwame Abrokwah’s story serves as a strong reminder that life abroad is not always glamorous, and without preparation, support, and legal documentation, the dream can quickly turn into a nightmare.
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