Paa Kojo, a Ghanaian currently based in Massachusetts, traveled to the United States in January on a visit visa. Now in his sixth month, he has overstayed and is living in fear without proper documentation.
“When I first arrived, the people I met encouraged me to stay. I initially wanted to return to Ghana, but I was convinced to stay,” he said. “Since then, I haven’t found a job. I stay home all day, and although my host feeds me, it bothers me. I feel stuck without papers.”
Before traveling, Paa Kojo was doing well in Ghana. He worked in the mining industry at Nkwakwa Abreemu, operating dump trucks and excavators.
“I earned between GHS 7,000 and 9,000 a month. I worked for three years and supported my wife and three children.”
Wanting to travel, he got connected to someone who promised a visit visa and job opportunities in the U.S.
“He charged me $16,000. I paid $6,000 upfront and agreed to pay the rest later. But when the visa came, he refused to give it to me unless I paid the balance. I had to sell my property to complete the payment.”
Paa Kojo says he now regrets not listening to SVTV Africa’s DJ Nyaami before making the move. “He got me a 3-month visa. I should have done more research.”
After arriving, he moved in with an old friend who now houses and feeds him. “I don’t pay bills, but as a father and husband, it pains me. My kids and wife back home need my support. I had taken a leave from my mining job, but if I don’t return in a month, I’ll lose the contract.”
He also expressed fear of being deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “They don’t always wear uniforms. They raid big stores in plain clothes. I once narrowly escaped a raid in our neighborhood.”
He hopes to find a job soon but is beginning to consider returning home if things don’t improve. “Freedom and work in Ghana are better than living under this pressure here.”
He recalls a recent trip to Home Depot, where he met two other Ghanaians working. “It gave me some hope, but jobs here aren’t easy to find. People back home think it’s easy to earn GHS 8,000–10,000 here, but the stress is intense.”
Now, he mostly communicates with his children via video calls. “They always ask when I’m coming home. It breaks my heart.”
His message to others:
“If you want to travel, do it the right way. Don’t sell everything to pay agents. It’s not always what it seems.”
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