Kwaku Kristo, a Ghanaian businessman based in the United States, recently appeared on SVTV Africa’s Business Link with DJ Nyaami, where he shared his inspiring entrepreneurial and migration journey. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, and deals in appliances, mattresses, and related products.
Recounting his story, Kwaku revealed that he left Ghana in 2023, but his journey began long before that. After completing the University of Ghana, he ventured into business and later traveled to China in 2009 to expand his trade. However, tragedy struck in 2017 when he lost his father, who had always been his mentor and closest companion.
“My father was my best friend. Before he passed, he told me not to return to China but to look for new opportunities elsewhere. He died right in front of me — it was one of the toughest moments of my life,” Kwaku shared.
While in China, Kwaku introduced a Ghanaian businessman to the disposable cup trade. Together, they shipped a 40-footer container, but the deal went sour, and he lost a significant amount of money. Despite the setback, he remained resilient.
Kwaku also spoke about how he met his wife through social media in 2018. The two built a strong bond online, and after she visited Ghana, they got married.
“She’s an American citizen and a nurse. She filed for me in 2019, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the process delayed, and I finally joined her in 2023,” he explained.
Since settling in the U.S., Kwaku has worked in several sales and appliance-related roles, including at an appliance factory where he earns commissions from sales.
“My boss buys appliances from malls when there’s debt on them and resells them at lower prices. I’ve done about three different sales jobs since I arrived,” he said.
Kwaku believes that success in America depends largely on the people you meet and the mindset you adopt.
“If you want to make more money here, you need to upgrade yourself through education or professional training. You can also build connections within the Ghanaian community or think outside the box,” he advised.
He added that he hopes to become a real estate agent (realtor) and has already set up a travel and tour business to help others find legitimate opportunities abroad.
“Networking opens your mind,” Kwaku concluded. “Wherever you find yourself, build relationships and use them to grow.”
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