Richard has shared his powerful and emotional story about migrating to Europe through the desert and the Mediterranean Sea, a journey that nearly cost him his life. Speaking from experience after spending 11 years in Italy, he described the harsh realities behind the dream of abrokyire and warned Ghanaians against risking their lives without a clear purpose.
Before leaving Ghana, Richard was a second-hand clothes seller at Kejetia. Pressured by hardship and responsibility, he decided to travel through Libya to Europe. He paid about $1,500 to attempt the sea crossing, not knowing whether he would survive. Along the journey, he was arrested several times in Libya and experienced severe abuse. Many people he traveled with never made it out alive.
Richard recounted that they spent two days on the open sea before being rescued. After reaching Europe, he was placed in a deportation camp, where he slept and lived under harsh conditions. It took him nine long years before he finally received his legal documents. According to him, many migrants remain stuck abroad because they borrowed huge sums of money to travel and cannot return home empty-handed.
Although Europe eventually helped him survive, Richard stressed that it is not a paradise. He revealed that many people sleep on the streets in Europe, struggling daily to survive. He explained that life abroad only becomes better if one is ready to hustle relentlessly. Otherwise, staying in Ghana is the wiser option—especially for those earning between ₵10,000 and ₵20,000 monthly.
In Italy, Richard did all kinds of jobs to survive, including cleaning, forklift driving, and working in a wood pallet factory. He emphasized that in Europe, there is dignity in every honest job, and survival has no pride. Employers abroad will hire you instantly if you are ready to work, unlike in Ghana where people often pay before securing jobs.
Richard also spoke about the emotional burden migrants carry due to family responsibilities back home. He noted that constant financial demands from relatives contribute to the suffering of many abroad. Despite being married in Italy, his marriage collapsed after seven years without children. He later divorced and revealed that he has children in Ghana.
Looking back, Richard said abrokyire helped him, but at a very high cost. He urged people who already have houses, cars, or stable lives in Ghana not to risk the desert and the sea. According to him, many people travel abroad due to pressure rather than purpose, which often leads to regret.
Today, after surviving the desert, the sea, detention camps, and years of uncertainty, Richard says seeing street children in Ghana now breaks his heart, especially after witnessing social systems in Europe. He concluded with a strong warning: do not travel abroad blindly. Know why you are going, count the cost, and remember that while abrokyire can help, it can also destroy lives.
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