George Poku Boahen, a Ghanaian based in West London, appeared on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide with DJ Nyaami. George has lived in the UK for three years.
He grew up in Kumasi, Apremdo, and after completing the University of Education, Winneba, where he studied Arts Education, he worked at the Cultural Centre. He was later promoted to the Akyem Kwahoma District Assembly before eventually leaving Ghana for the UK.
George said that when he lived in Ghana, he didn’t fully appreciate what he had. After getting a job, he used his father’s car and later saved money to buy his own car—even though he didn’t truly need it. In the UK, he has worked in cleaning, as a gym instructor, and also earns money as an instrumentalist. He still works as a gym instructor today.
Before traveling, he believed he could build a mansion in six months. But after three years abroad, he says he lives hand-to-mouth and hasn’t saved anything significant. A year ago, he started gathering information and decided it was time to return to Ghana and restart his life. He has already bought his ticket and plans to move back this month.
In Ghana, he owns a printing press that his father is currently managing for him. George believes that if he had invested the money he used to buy a car into his business, he would have been well established by now.
According to him, “abrokyire is a scam” because the world has changed. The stories older people used to tell about abroad are no longer true. Today, even white people know most immigrant tricks, so coming to Europe is not as easy as before. He lives in a shared apartment with four others, and he says he has never seen any of them come home from work happy—they are all depressed.
George explained that when you arrive, it feels like you’ve reached heaven, but once you start working in the system, you realize it was all an illusion. His experiences inspired him to write a book, which he launched last week, titled “Chains Beyond Borders.” The book debunks the myths Africans are told about abroad using his own journey and the stories of other immigrants.
He once believed he could build a mansion in six months, but now admits it might take him forever—so he has stopped chasing that dream. He says the way Ghanaians are raised makes people believe success is defined by owning a house and a car. Meanwhile, uncles who return from abroad often brag and give a false picture, influencing the youth.
George shared an experience about a man in his hometown who is said to own many mansions. But when he met the man abroad, he saw him sweeping at a bus station. That moment confirmed to him that the “abrokyire dream” is not what it seems. The man spends only a few weeks in his house in Ghana and returns to struggle abroad.
George says he is determined to return to Ghana despite his family fighting against his decision. They tried to discourage him and even sabotaged his plans, but he believes Ghana is where his success lies. He revealed that his family produces charcoal from burnt coconut husks, and they now receive international orders they can barely meet.
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