Kwame Strabo, a Ghanaian currently based in the United Kingdom, has shared his powerful life journey on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami, shedding light on struggle, resilience, and hard-earned lessons about life abroad and back home.
Kwame revealed that he traveled to the UK during the COVID-19 period in 2020, but his journey before then was filled with responsibility and hardship. Back in Ghana, he was supervising his father’s private school in Gomoa. He was also actively involved in the management team of his senior brother, popular musician A Plus. Seeking independence, Kwame decided to branch out and start his own ventures.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. He took loans to run a book-related business, but it collapsed, leaving him deeply indebted—owing between GH₵20,000 and GH₵40,000. Creditors were chasing him, and life became extremely difficult.
In the midst of this struggle, Kwame met a man on Facebook who later became a close friend. After learning that the man’s father had passed away, Kwame accompanied him to Ghana to attend the burial in Ahafo. During that period, the friend introduced him to the idea of joining the British Army and claimed that Kwame’s name had already been listed. Kwame followed through by completing police reports and medical examinations in preparation.
Back home, challenges continued. Due to financial mismanagement and embezzlement by some teachers at his father’s school—whom his father was reluctant to dismiss—Kwame took more loans to keep the school running, eventually going bankrupt. After his father’s death, Kwame took a bold step by sacking the problematic staff, and the school later made a profit of about GH₵20,000.
Kwame also spoke about his failed attempts to join the Ghana Armed Forces. He attributed his rejection to corruption and bribery within the system. He considered joining the Ghana Police Service but lost interest after observing how officers allegedly extort money from road users. His repeated disappointments pushed him to look elsewhere.
During COVID-19, Kwame finally made it to the UK. He explained that the UK Home Office advised him to ignore harassment messages he had received concerning military recruitment. Eventually, he successfully joined the British Army, where he underwent training and worked as a combat engineer and support driver. He described the experience as demanding but rewarding.
Now 35 years old, Kwame says he has a clear vision for his future. He plans to return to Ghana to engage in animal farming, which he believes will give him peace of mind. According to him, Ghana offers mental peace that money abroad cannot buy.
He advised young people that if they find small business opportunities abroad—such as running a corner shop—they should use it as a stepping stone, make their money, and return to Ghana to invest, especially in farming. Kwame strongly believes in self-employment, stressing that working under employers can be a long-term trap.
Kwame concluded by criticizing Ghana’s military recruitment system, describing it as flawed and unfair. He lamented that many passionate individuals are denied entry, while others who lack interest use “protocol” to gain access, only to underperform because the job is not their calling.
His story stands as a reminder that while traveling abroad can open doors, true fulfillment, purpose, and peace may still lie back home in Ghana.
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