Kwaku Alonso, a Ghanaian currently based in the United Kingdom, shared his journey and reflections on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami. He has lived in the UK for two years and says that the reality abroad is far different from the expectations people have back in Ghana.
“It’s not as easy as people think. I’m doing menial jobs here—jobs I wouldn’t have considered in Ghana,” he admitted.
Kwaku explained that the level of energy and effort required to survive abroad made him realize that if he had channeled the same into his business back home, he could have succeeded. However, he noted that success in Ghana demands support, branding, determination, and perseverance.
He observed that Ghanaians living abroad often overwork themselves, while “whites” (locals in the UK) typically work 8-hour shifts and prioritize rest. He also expressed concern that Ghanaians are gradually abandoning their extended family systems in favor of nuclear families. In contrast, many UK companies are family-run and generational—something even seen in football, where players sign contracts with their grandfathers and uncles by their side.
Before traveling, Kwaku was involved in the taxi business in Ghana. After university, he chose not to be a financial burden on his family and started driving taxis to sustain himself, continuing the business for about seven years. He also bought and sold cars and collaborated with the local government on some ventures. Though he wasn’t ready to travel abroad initially, an opportunity came when his uncle offered to sponsor his studies. He took the chance and traveled to the UK on a student visa to study Environmental Science.
While schooling, he was told that those on student visas couldn’t easily switch their immigration status. He paid £18,000 for school but now faces the challenge of finding a job in his field.
He remarked that while Western societies advocate for green economies now, it’s ironic because they previously destroyed their own lands through mining. They’ve stopped, but foreign countries like China continue harmful mining practices in Ghana—something locals need to wake up to.
He emphasized that success abroad isn’t just about education, but about the mindset you raise your children with. Many people are living on what he called a “time bomb” in the UK—stressed, overworked, and uncertain. He warned that many women abroad focus on money over relationships, leading to broken marriages. He also pointed out that lecturers and other professionals in the UK are paid by the hour and often earn less than expected.
“Religion, education, and even language were used by the colonialists to divide us. In Africa today, people are selling religion for profit,” he said.
Kwaku advised that anyone doing well with a good business in Ghana shouldn’t rush to travel abroad. He cited his own experience in farming, particularly with beans cultivation on 3–4 acres, which turned a huge profit during a price surge. He once advised a struggling farmer to do the same, and the man harvested 10–15 bags and made a significant gain.
“If you’ve completed university and can raise around GHS 150,000, it should be enough to come and study in the UK,” he added.
Despite the challenges, he acknowledged that his education has given him some leverage in the UK. He pays £400 for rent, which he says isn’t expensive by UK standards. Though life is hard, he still sends money to people back home who truly need it.
In conclusion, Kwaku stressed that living abroad isn’t always the dream people think it is. Many are struggling in silence and, in his words, “sitting on a time bomb.”
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