I Regret Leaving Ghana for America; I Was Wealthy Back Home– Harry, Ghanaian Teacher Turned Entrepreneur, Shares His Painful Journey
Harry, a Ghanaian teacher based in America, has shared his emotional story about relocating abroad and the regrets that followed. According to him, he moved to the United States seven years ago to join his wife, even though his life and businesses in Ghana were thriving.
Before relocating, Harry was a teacher in Ghana and had also taken courses at the Ghana Stock Exchange. A mentor once advised him that teaching alone would not make him financially stable unless he added a side business or left the profession entirely. Taking that advice, Harry ventured into electrical and tabletop businesses. Within six months, he opened his first shop, and in three years, he owned three shops. By the time he was preparing to move to America, he had five successful businesses, all earning more than his teaching salary.
Harry revealed that he fell in love with electrical work and was making good money. He owned two houses in America and several rental apartments in Ghana. Life was comfortable in Ghana, but he felt compelled to join his wife abroad.
He disclosed that although he continued teaching for many years and even taught at Trump Ghana, he rarely touched his salary, surviving mostly on loans. Last year alone, he was able to take GH¢150,000 as a teacher. For the past seven years, he only visited Ghana during vacations.
However, life in America proved difficult. Despite never being sick for 45 years, he began struggling mentally two years after relocating and was nearly placed on depression medication. He explained that even earning $4,000–$5,000 a month abroad is not enough, as rent and taxes consume most of the income. Buying a house requires at least 35 years of consistent work.
Harry added that although he arrived in America with a master’s degree, it did not help him secure stability, forcing him to return to school again. During COVID-19, what was meant to be a two-month visit turned into a year-long stay, causing his businesses in Ghana to collapse. One associate allegedly stole GH¢100,000 from his electrical business, and gradually, all five of his shops shut down.
He expressed deep regret for leaving Ghana, stating that he was financially better off back home. He warned Ghanaians abroad not to run businesses from overseas, as mismanagement and theft can destroy everything. He shared examples of people earning as little as $300 a month abroad with no property in Ghana, and elderly men in their 80s still driving taxis overseas, abandoned by their families.
Harry advised that anyone earning GH¢10,000 or more monthly in Ghana should stay, build their life locally, and avoid the illusion that living abroad automatically guarantees a better quality of life.
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