Ghanaian Nurse in North Carolina Shares Her Journey From Agogo to Homeownership in the U.S.
Ghanaian-born nurse Leotina Comfort Nyaaba, now based in North Carolina, has shared her inspiring experience of relocating to the United States with her family and rebuilding her nursing career from the ground up. She narrated her story on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide with DJ Nyaami.
Leotina moved to the United States in 2022 with her husband and their two children. Before migrating, she worked as a nurse at the Asante Akyem Agogo Hospital in Ghana, while her husband taught at the Agogo Nursing and Midwifery Training School, where the two first met.
She explained that nursing was inspired by her mother, and although she once dreamt of becoming an air hostess, she eventually embraced the healthcare profession after discovering her passion for patience and service. She began her nursing career with a degree in Ghana.
According to Leotina, moving to America required her to begin the nursing process again because local Ghanaian certificates do not automatically qualify one to practice in the U.S.
“When you come to America with your local nursing certificate, you need to start afresh,” she said.
When they moved, her last-born child was only three months old, so she stayed home for a while and studied from there to prepare for her nursing transition.
She also spoke about the realities of working abroad:
“When you wake up early and go to work in America, it feels like you’ve sold your life to ‘obroni’. The system demands a lot.”
Having worked night shifts initially, she later chose day work, saying her patients—especially those with psychiatric conditions—responded better when she worked during the day.
Leotina admitted that cultural shock was one of her early struggles in the United States. She also experienced a frightening health scare after contracting what she described as a new infection known as stomach flu.
“It made me see death. My husband was at work, and it happened at dawn. I only felt relieved after I vomited,” she recalled.
Leotina and her husband had been married for three years before migrating, and she emphasized that no marriage is perfect—but understanding and honesty keep it strong.
“We have joint accounts. Marriage works when there’s truth and support,” she said.
Although they initially began building a house in Ghana, her husband later encouraged them to prioritize buying a home in America.
“Within three years of being in the U.S., we bought our first house,” she revealed proudly.
Now settled in North Carolina, Leotina continues to build her nursing career while raising her children and adjusting fully to life abroad. Her journey serves as inspiration to many young Ghanaian professionals seeking better opportunities beyond the country’s borders.
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