Former Ghanaian Pragya Driver Finds a New Life in Brazil
Karim, a former Pragya (tricycle) driver in Ghana, decided to travel abroad after his business collapsed. He began driving Pragya in 2018 and initially made good money. He first worked with someone’s tricycle before eventually buying his own.
Before the elections, Karim made up his mind to travel in search of better opportunities. His original plan was to pass through Mexico and then cross into the United States. However, upon arriving in Brazil, he obtained a nine-year residence permit and discovered new opportunities there. Now, he no longer wishes to travel to America.
“When I first arrived, I only worked for about three months and used the little money I earned for transportation,” Karim said. “I stayed in Natal for three months, then moved to another area where I got a job at JBS — a halal meat processing company.”
He added that many Ghanaians are currently living in Brazil. Karim entered the country on a visa and later secured a nine-year residence permit and national ID. He has learned to speak Portuguese and has already applied for naturalization, which he believes will allow him to move freely within Europe.
Despite these achievements, Karim says the Brazilian currency is weak compared to Ghana’s economy. “I used to make more money in Ghana than I do here,” he admitted. “I work in a chicken processing factory where chickens are slaughtered and sliced for food. The job is okay, but I’m not happy doing it — I have no other option.”
He also expressed sympathy for men who left their wives in Ghana to work in Brazil, saying many of them don’t know when they will return home. On the bright side, Karim noted that food in Brazil is relatively cheap compared to Ghana.
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