Mohammed is a Ghanaian currently living in Paris, France. He shared his journey on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show, where he opened up about the struggles and lessons he’s learned as a migrant.
According to Mohammed, life abroad is not always what people imagine.
“When you come abroad, it’s like you’re closer to heaven,” he said sarcastically, noting the absence of familiar cultural and social systems like traditional beliefs and strong family support. He admitted that the route he took to get to Europe is one of his biggest regrets—crossing through the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. He stated plainly, “If I died during the journey, I would have lost everything.”
He recounted how many of those he left behind in Ghana are now more successful than him. Mohammed was raised in Accra but traveled to Nigeria in 2009, eventually making his way to Libya. He revealed painful parts of his childhood, including losing his mother and not knowing the whereabouts of his father in Techiman. After facing hardship and deception—including being scammed while trying to find his mother—he decided to return to Accra before embarking on the risky journey abroad.
Mohammed described various incidents, including being robbed in Nigeria and narrowly escaping war in Libya. Eventually, he made it to Italy but fell sick upon arrival. He was hospitalized for two months, during which a Ghanaian pastor prayed for him, despite Mohammed being a Muslim. “They fed me, gave me clothes, and took care of me,” he said.
After Italy, he moved to Malta, where he lived among people from Mali, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Somalia. Though many struggled to get documents, Mohammed was one of the few Ghanaians who succeeded. He later relocated to France in late 2016 to work as a driver. He has since learned French and now drives trucks for a living.
Despite building a better life in France, Mohammed still feels the weight of the journey.
“Ghanaians are suffering abroad because we chase money and forget the cost,” he said. He criticized the way some Ghanaian parents redirect their children’s frustrations toward politics instead of providing proper guidance. “There used to be joy in Ghana even without money. Today, that’s lost.”
He shared that since coming to France, life has improved, thanks to his mother’s prayers and support. However, he deeply regrets using the Mediterranean route to migrate, saying, “If I had died, everything would have been in vain.”
Mohammed advised young Ghanaians to trust in themselves and not expect miracles when they travel abroad. “Hard work is the only way,” he stressed. Though he has done well, he doesn’t intend to stay in France forever. He plans to return to Ghana, invest in business, and help his child succeed.
He briefly tried Uber driving in Ghana with a Toyota Vitz, and said it went well. “When you return from abroad, start from scratch. You’ll make it,” he encouraged. He concluded with a story of how someone mocked him for driving Uber after returning from abroad, but he said he’s proud of his honest hustle and wants to rebuild in Ghana.
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