Owusu, a Ghanaian currently based in the Netherlands, appeared on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide Show with DJ Nyaami to share his long journey abroad.
Owusu left Ghana 13 years ago after working as a teacher. He completed his studies at Mampong Technical College in 2009 and served as a teacher for three years.
“Back in Ghana, I was teaching at Manso JHS and earning a modest salary of $1,000. I wanted to improve my life, so I decided to travel abroad,” he explained.
His first destination was Bangkok, Thailand, where he worked for a while. Owusu recalled the difficulties of obtaining and maintaining visas.
“We often had to travel to neighboring countries like Indonesia or Malaysia to renew visas. Sometimes the school we joined as part of a language program tried to help with work permits, but immigration processes were complicated. My visa expired, and I had to navigate the system carefully to stay in Thailand,” he said.
Owusu also tried to move to Japan four times and applied for a visa to the United States through a friend’s invitation, but both attempts were unsuccessful.
Eventually, he applied for a visa to the Netherlands and was accepted.
In the Netherlands, Owusu joined the Ghanaian community and became active in his local church. He started working in restaurants and has continued in this line of work ever since.
“Life is okay, but it’s not easy. I work, go home, and repeat. After 13 years abroad, I’m not married yet, and the idea of bringing a woman here or sending a child abroad for school seems very complicated,” he reflected.
Despite the challenges, Owusu remains determined to return to Ghana permanently.
“After more than a decade abroad, I’ve decided it’s time to come back home,” he said.
Owusu’s story is a testament to the perseverance of many Ghanaians living abroad, navigating complicated immigration systems and working tirelessly to build a better life.














