Yaw Scott is a Ghanaian based in the United Kingdom, where he has lived for the past four years. Like many migrants, he traveled with high expectations, believing that converting pounds into cedis would automatically mean financial success. However, reality quickly taught him otherwise.
In an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide, Yaw Scott opened up about his journey, struggles, and lessons learned abroad.
Back in Ghana, Yaw Scott was well established. He owned a major recording studio that worked with top artists including Shatta Wale, Sarkodie, and many others. Several hit projects were recorded in his studio, including his own first album, Thanks and Praise, Guru’s Lapaz Toyota, and other notable productions.
Beyond music, Yaw Scott served as a police officer in Ghana for 12 years. His love for music started right after school when his father noticed his passion and helped him set up a studio. The business grew rapidly, but after a fire destroyed the studio, he rebuilt it under the name Family Fan Studio in Accra New Town, later rebranding it as Step Two Music Records. He combined studio work with his police duties and also ran other ventures, including pig farming and food distribution, employing staff to cook, fry, and sell products for him. By all standards, he was doing well in Ghana.
Believing that traveling abroad would offer a better future, Yaw Scott resigned from the police service and relocated to the UK. He arrived and stayed with his aunt in Addanum, where he trained for care work and began working in the sector. When his aunt needed rent for her house, Yaw Scott moved out and began renting on his own.
At the time, he was earning about £1,800 a month while paying £800 in rent. To cope, he added more work hours, taking on a second and eventually a third job. The workload was exhausting—there were days he went without bathing for up to four days—but he pushed through until it became unsustainable. Eventually, he reduced his workload and maintained two jobs.
Yaw Scott stresses that in the UK, most income goes into bills. Surviving on one job is possible, but only a few people earn as much as £3,000 from a single role. He shared an experience where he rented a house with a woman who relied on money sent from Ghana to pay rent. Unable to cope with the situation, he refunded his money and moved out. He also observed that some people relocate from London to other areas because of high rent costs.
Currently, Yaw Scott is taking his time and working on his projects step by step. Looking back, he admits he regrets not having a clear plan when he first arrived in the UK. He recalls crying one day after boarding the wrong bus in the cold weather, reflecting on how comfortable life had been for him in Ghana as a police officer.
In Ghana, Yaw Scott used to manage housing projects and help people find accommodation. Today, he is giving himself time to rebuild and adapt. He believes that survival—both abroad and at home—requires multiple streams of income and advises people in Ghana not to depend on just one job. Weekends, he says, can be used to develop side hustles.
Despite the challenges, music remains his outlet. He recently released a new song titled “Darell,” inspired by the death of his father and family conflicts over property. He has also released tracks such as “Haywire,” “Iwan,” and “Kɔtɛ Bɛka,” all available on Audiomack.
Yaw Scott has not yet returned to Ghana, but his story reflects the realities of migration—the sacrifices, the mistakes, and the resilience required to survive abroad.
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