Isaac, a Ghanaian now living in Serbia, has been there for a year and a half. Born in Larteh, his upbringing wasn’t easy. Raised in Accra by his aunt along with four other children, he attended Labone EPOS School and worked various jobs, including at Kingdom Books.
At just 17, Isaac saved enough money to open his own barbershop. Although he hired someone to manage it, the shopkeeper wasn’t consistent and only showed up when he felt like it. This forced Isaac to leave his job at Kingdom Books and learn how to barber himself. With no prior experience, he taught himself through YouTube, Instagram, and occasional help from his uncle, eventually becoming a skilled barber.
Later, Isaac pursued journalism and served with GBC News during national service. He was part of the team that covered the arrival of the first COVID-19 case at the airport. Unfortunately, two days later, staff layoffs began due to the pandemic.
Determined, he approached Class FM and Accra FM for opportunities and volunteered without pay, handling social media coverage. He later became a full-time social media manager and journalist. His growing skills eventually landed him a job at Multimedia, where he was responsible for streaming and managing content across all platforms. The workload was intense, and one day he mistakenly posted a personal update on the company’s page. That cost him his job—but they gave him GHS 3,000 as a settlement.
Afterwards, he joined Oyerepa FM as their social media manager, where he handled all online content. Around this time, he began planning to travel to Serbia or Croatia. Though his visa was approved within a month, raising funds for a ticket was a struggle.
Isaac had strong ties with some politicians and believed his influence helped the NPP win power. Sadly, many of those he supported forgot about him once they got positions. Eventually, a childhood friend’s sister helped him secure a visa.
Although he had a good-paying job in Ghana, he said, “If you don’t do something illegal, it’s hard to make it.” He moved to Serbia and now works part-time in tobacco farms and construction. “Tobacco work is hard,” he admitted, “but it pays well. Some pluck and others collect.”
He revealed that many of his teammates stowed away to Europe. Isaac, however, used his income to go back to school and has since bought a plot of land at Dodowa, where he’s building a structure. “If I were in Ghana, I couldn’t have saved enough to even start this project.”
He praises Serbians for being welcoming and not demanding immigration papers. “If you’re coming here to do tobacco work, I advise you to bring five or six bottles of Aboniki balm!”
Isaac has no desire to compare himself to others. “I’m not trying to be like anyone. I’m giving myself three to four years to complete the project in Ghana.”
He also wants to change perceptions about migration:
“You can make it in other European countries—it doesn’t have to be the USA, UK, or Canada. Serbia is also an opportunity if you’re willing to work hard.”
Watch The Video Below:
About The Author
