Paa Kojo Tommy, a Ghanaian entrepreneur and CEO of Cape Coast Market Ogua in Birmingham, UK, shared his remarkable journey on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide Show with DJ Nyaami.
Tommy’s journey abroad began at age 15. He first traveled to Nigeria, then to Thailand and Malaysia, aiming to reach Japan.
“I was traveling with just $500, given a three-month visa. Our connections eventually ran out, and we were among the first Ghanaians to go to Malaysia. Finally, I got a visa to come to the UK,” he recalled.
His personal life has been marked by both love and loss. Tommy shared a tragic story of marrying a woman in Ghana on the 31st of a month, only to lose her the next day.
“I will always remember her. Life has its ups and downs,” he reflected.
After arriving in the UK in 1999, Tommy began working at a hotel before moving to Birmingham’s international airport, where he joined Emirates’ ground handling team. He became the first Black man to open aircraft gates at the airport and was later sent to Gatwick to train others. He worked at the airport for 20 years, always avoiding alcohol and focusing on hard work.
Eventually, Tommy left airport employment to start his own business.
“I compared the money I was making at the airport with what I could do on my own. Starting my Afro shop gave me freedom. I no longer have to wake up at dawn to catch the first flight. Now I control my schedule and my vision,” he said.
Reflecting on the Ghanaian diaspora, Tommy noted,
“Ghanaians often don’t support their own, unlike other communities. Nigerians abroad feel happy when they meet fellow Nigerians, but many Ghanaians stay in Osu, relying on relatives abroad. Out of ten people who travel abroad, only three really succeed. Hard work and determination matter.”
Today, Tommy’s daughter has joined him in the UK to help manage Cape Coast Market Ogua. Together, they maintain customer relationships and have adjusted prices to attract more buyers, continuing the family legacy of resilience, entrepreneurship, and vision.
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