Maame Esi, a Ghanaian woman now living in New Jersey, has opened up about her difficult but inspiring journey in the United States. She revealed that despite having family in America, her first night in the country was spent sleeping outside. The experience was shocking and painful, but it marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
Before relocating, Maame Esi had been studying at Kumasi Polytechnic but left for America without completing her national service. She arrived with hopes of building a better future, including dreams of pursuing nursing school. However, reality quickly set in as family responsibilities and financial pressures took priority.
She got married in 2015, believing marriage would bring stability. Instead, she says it gradually became a burden. According to her, while she worked and paid the bills in America, her husband focused on building a house in Ghana. The breaking point came when he allegedly registered the house in his mother’s name. At the time, Maame Esi said she was struggling with debt and paying rent alone, while her husband continued sending money home.
The challenges intensified during the COVID-19 period, and by 2020, the marriage had ended in divorce. “Marriage became a burden, but divorce gave me peace,” she explained. She believes peace of mind is far better than remaining in a toxic relationship.
After the divorce, Maame Esi says she rebuilt her life step by step. Now a single mother of two, she describes herself as independent and focused. She bought her own car, helped build a house for her family back home, and took full control of her finances. According to her, she now manages money better than she did while married.
She emphasizes that life in America is not easy. It requires hard work, discipline, and sacrifice. With child support, determination, and consistent effort, she has created stability for herself and her children. “I would rather be a happy single mother than a miserable wife,” she said.
Maame Esi encourages others not to give up, especially those who get the opportunity to travel abroad. “If you get the chance to travel, take it. You will survive,” she advised. For her, divorce did not break her — it built her into a stronger, more self-reliant woman.














