Nicholas, a Ghanaian based in Ontario, Canada, has been living there for about two and a half years. He shared his story on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide with DJ Nyaami.
Back in Ghana, Nicholas lived in Kumasi, where he worked installing CCTV cameras alongside other jobs to make ends meet. Like many others, he had dreams of traveling abroad for a fresh start. Through a connection from a Ghanaian actress and circumstances involving his stepfather, he managed to secure his trip to Canada. He funded everything himself, spending around $70,000 CAD in total, including airfare and other expenses.
Within his second month in Canada, Nicholas got a job. He realized that in Canada, getting a job isn’t as stressful if you know how to prepare a good résumé and apply online. During this time, he met an older white woman online — close to his mother’s age — who had lost her son and was living alone in Quebec. She invited him to visit, and after his first trip, he returned to stay with her for a while. She was impressed by how he managed to come to Canada on his own and told him she had been living alone for years.
At first, their relationship was purely platonic, but over time, things became complicated. The woman’s daughter started acting inappropriately toward him — even appearing naked in front of him. The daughter became jealous after seeing Nicholas and her mother laughing together while watching a movie. Tensions escalated, and the woman threatened to shoot him if he left the house.
Eventually, Nicholas moved to Ontario after securing a new job that paid twice his Quebec salary. However, the mother and daughter continued to fight over him. The woman began charging him $800 in rent, despite earlier not requiring it. She would drive him 45 minutes to and from work, but the situation at home became unbearable.
One day, Nicholas didn’t return home after work, and they reported him as a missing person. The woman also used marijuana edibles, which he believed contributed to her strange behavior. With help from a colleague, Nicholas returned to Quebec to pack his belongings, only to discover that the woman had taken most of his things.
Police got involved, warning her that she would be held responsible if anything happened to him. His company even arranged a lawyer, stating that he had been abused and exploited.
Nicholas now advises other Ghanaians in Canada to be willing to move to different locations for better opportunities, as staying in one place can limit job prospects. He also encourages people to learn skilled trades, which pay higher wages and open more career options.