Thomas, a Ghanaian based in the UK, recently shared his story in an interview on Daily Hustle Worldwide with DJ Nyaami about the harsh realities of life abroad.
In his first interview, Thomas revealed that he pressured his father to take him to the UK. When his father refused, he went ahead and sold the car his father had bought for him in Ghana to finance his travel. In his mind, he believed that immediately upon arrival abroad, he would start making money and quickly repay the cost of the car or even buy a better one. However, reality turned out to be very different.
“Abroad is like a trap,” he said. “Once it catches you, it’s difficult to return home because people will say you achieved nothing.” According to him, many people back home assume that anyone living abroad is automatically successful, which creates pressure and shame for those who are struggling.
Thomas explained that many people who travel from villages often see Ghana as small once they arrive abroad, but the truth is that life overseas is far harder than people imagine. “The olden days of ‘abrokyire’ are not the same as today,” he said. “After traveling, I can boldly say some Ghanaians are richer than many people abroad.”
He noted that those who have lived abroad for 20 or 30 years have truly endured hardship. Many cannot return home because they are tied to mortgages, some of which have even been revoked. “Nothing is free abroad. You pay for everything,” he emphasized.
Thomas admitted that while he once drove Uber in the UK, friends he left behind in Ghana are now doing very well. Some have bought multiple cars, others are importing goods from China, and some are building hotels. “The only bragging right I have is that I have traveled abroad,” he said, adding that he is currently facing passport-related challenges.
He also touched on how some people manipulate the welfare system, claiming that authorities often investigate how people live before granting benefits. In some cases, couples reportedly pretend to be separated while living in the same house to qualify for financial support.
Speaking about his family, Thomas said his father has lived in Zurich for 40 years. According to him, those who truly made it abroad have made it, but for many others, life remains difficult. “Those who come for holidays don’t see the real hardship,” he said.
He recalled that when his father traveled abroad and left him behind, he went through emotional stress and was mistreated by a family member. He believes that if his father had received enough support abroad at the time, he would have been in a better position to help the family back home.
Thomas also shared the story of his friend Kofi, who sold his car and belongings to travel to Canada. Thomas had advised him to stay in Ghana because his job there was stable, but Kofi insisted on leaving. Although life in Canada has been tough, Kofi is striving and now hopes to return to Ghana to start a business. They even opened a GoFundMe account to support his transition.
Thomas emphasized that people should not underestimate local opportunities. He said he used to earn good money operating boats in Ghana. Another friend was convinced he would make more money abroad doing trucking jobs, but after traveling on a visitor visa, he realized that without proper documents, even basic work becomes impossible.
Through his story, Thomas cautions young people not to assume that traveling abroad automatically guarantees wealth. “Life abroad is not what many people think,” he concluded.
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