Joel, a Ghanaian based in Ghana, shared his migration experience during an appearance on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami, offering a candid account of life in Canada and his ongoing plans for the future.
According to Joel, he has lived in Canada for about one year. He traveled to Quebec with a friend, but shortly after arriving, misunderstandings arose. The friend he lived with eventually asked him to leave the house, leaving him confused and disappointed. This early experience shaped his view of life abroad, and he admitted that he was not particularly happy with “abrokyire” despite the expectations that came with traveling.
Back in Ghana, Joel had a strong interest in broiler farming, which initially showed promise. His mother supported him financially to start the farming business, but the venture collapsed. Later, his former girlfriend provided him with $15,000 to restart the farming project. When he first attempted to travel abroad, he paid GH¢10,000 to an agent but was unsuccessful. On his second attempt, despite his mother’s advice to abandon farming and focus on traveling, he eventually secured a Canadian visa.
At the time he got the visa, Joel was working at the Harbour and at GPHA in Ghana. He invested the entire $15,000 into farming and still maintains his poultry pen in Ghana. Upon arriving in Canada, he stayed with family members, which made it easier for him to integrate into the system. He noted that life abroad requires strict adherence to rules and systems, something he had to adjust to quickly.
Joel revealed that rent in Canada is extremely high. Currently, he lives in a shared apartment, sleeping in a hall and paying about $500 a month. He explained that despite the discomfort, this arrangement allows him to manage his finances. He emphasized that many of the menial jobs done abroad are poorly regarded in Ghana, yet they pay far better overseas than they would back home.
Married with three children and hoping for more, Joel explained that one of his main motivations for traveling was to create opportunities to migrate his children in the future. However, he admitted that fear and uncertainty in Canada have made him reconsider his plans. He disclosed his intention to return to Ghana soon, especially as he plans to move out of the shared hall into his own place this month.
Joel added that although his mother owns a house in Jamestown, he has never been particularly interested in building houses. Instead, he prefers to buy land for projects or long-term investment. He concluded by stating that while life abroad comes with opportunities, it also comes with challenges and sacrifices that are often hidden from public view, and each individual must carefully weigh their reasons for leaving Ghana against the realities they may face overseas.
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