Nana Kwasi Boateng Asafoakye, a Ghanaian native from Agogo, is currently based in Kentucky, United States, where he lives with his wife. The couple recently shared their inspiring migration and success journey in an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Nana Kwasi shared that he lived in various parts of Accra, including Adabraka, Pig Farm, and Odorkor. Despite a challenging childhood, he pushed through and pursued education. He attended Obuasi Secondary Technical and later Tema Secondary School for sixth form. He also studied at Cape Vass in 1994. After completing his national service at Accra Polytechnic, where he taught mathematics, he moved on to teach at Cateco.
Curious about opportunities abroad, Nana Kwasi began reading extensively about countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa. With Zimbabwe being visa-free at the time and coinciding with a long vacation, he took the leap and traveled there alone. Although he had no contacts, he planned to stay for two months and soon connected with fellow Ghanaians on the street. They informed him of a growing trend where agents were abandoning people in Zimbabwe after promising to send them to other countries like Canada.
Following their advice, Nana applied for a Botswanan visa and relocated there. By divine favor, he met a Ghanaian who owned a school and needed a mathematics teacher. The school secured his residence permit, and his wife was later able to join him legally. Their life in Botswana was a major upgrade—his salary was nearly five times what he earned in Ghana. While Ghanaian teachers earned around $300, he was making $1,800 per month.
After some time, the couple successfully secured a U.S. visa and traveled to New York. However, Nana found it difficult to secure employment there and eventually moved to Kentucky, where an old friend helped him settle. When his wife arrived—he had purchased her flight ticket—they started from scratch, sleeping on the carpet and gradually furnishing their home together.
Nana also spoke about a friend he tried to advise. This friend, doing well in Ghana, wanted to send his children abroad through a questionable agent. Nana cautioned him, suggesting he send one child first to test the waters before risking everything. Unfortunately, the friend did not heed the advice and sold his properties to send two children abroad—believing promises of relocation to Singapore.
Now firmly established in Kentucky, Nana and his wife have built a fulfilling life. Their children are grown, and his wife continues to pursue her education. The Ghanaian community in Kentucky is thriving, and many are doing well for themselves.
Nana is the Sanaahene (Chief of Defense) of Agogo and now runs his own car rental business in the U.S., having only worked under someone briefly when he first arrived. In Ghana, the couple has built a house, invested in Airbnb, and ventured into agriculture—including mushroom, goat, and snail farming. They have a partner managing the projects in Ghana, although handling workers remains a challenge.
Their story is a testament to what understanding, hard work, and unity in marriage can achieve. Nana also emphasized that single parenting in America is not easy unless one brings their mother over to help—and even then, everyone must be aligned with a shared goal, especially when it comes to investing back home.
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