Nicholas, a Ghanaian based in Arizona, shared his inspiring journey on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami.
According to Nicholas, life in Arizona is quite peaceful and organized. The state shares a border with Mexico, and immigration authorities (ICE) often conduct inspections and arrests in the area.
Nicholas left Ghana in 2020 and has now lived in the United States for about five years. Before moving abroad, he worked in the mining sector and later joined a real estate company in Ghana. The company owner trusted him deeply and even made him the manager.
“People thought I was rich because my boss allowed me to use his G-Wagon,” Nicholas recalled. “If your salary in Ghana is between 10,000 and 20,000 cedis, don’t rush to travel to America—it’s not as easy as people think.”
Nicholas explained that he met his wife, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through an online connection. She visited Ghana twice, and on her second visit, they got married. She later filed for him, and after a year and a half, he finally received his visa and moved to the U.S.
When he first arrived in America, he worked at Walmart earning $15 an hour. Later, his wife helped him secure a position at a medical laboratory that specializes in cancer testing. After receiving on-the-job training as a quality engineer, his income increased significantly.
“America is full of opportunities,” he said, “but if you let the excitement get into your head, it can destroy you. Build your credit score wisely—once it reaches 740, you can buy a car or other property on credit.”
Nicholas shared that he once financed a Mercedes-Benz through monthly deductions of $900 from his salary but later returned the car after completing the payments. Today, he combines his hospital work with driving Uber to boost his income. Together, he and his wife both earn six figures annually.
“She’s a good woman,” he said proudly. “Before we got married, she already had her own house. Later, we combined resources and bought another one together. I wouldn’t want a divorce because I could lose the house.”
Nicholas advised Ghanaians living abroad to invest back home. He and his wife plan to start a large cold store business in Ghana as part of their retirement plan.
“I visited Ghana in 2023 after five years in America,” he concluded. “I wish the Ghanaian system worked like the one in the U.S.—where things are structured and easily accessible.”
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