Christopher Boamah, a Ghanaian currently based in Toronto, Canada, has shared his journey from being a trained teacher in Ghana to navigating life and work abroad.
In an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide Show, Christopher revealed that he is a professionally trained teacher with a university degree. Before relocating, he taught at Kumasi KTI A.M.A. Senior High School for about eight to nine years.
He explained that when he started teaching as a young graduate, his salary was about GHS 900, which was manageable at the time. However, as he began to raise a family, he realised the income would no longer be sufficient to meet his growing responsibilities.
Christopher said many people around him were travelling to the uk because of the currency exchange rate, but his wife was concerned about how he would cope there. As a result, he decided to explore other options and eventually found a way to relocate to Canada. His wife, however, remained in Ghana and did not move to the UK.
According to Christopher, dealing with agents was one of the most challenging parts of his journey. He described many agents as unreliable and overly demanding. Upon arrival in Canada, immigration officers asked for his school fees receipt, as he entered through a study route. He later realised that the agent had misrepresented key details about his school fees, accommodation, and bookings.
Christopher disclosed that he paid about GHS 90,000 to the agent, who claimed he had paid for the first semester of his tuition and arranged three months’ rent. Unfortunately, none of these promises were fulfilled. After clearing immigration, Christopher found himself alone, not knowing anyone in Canada, until a friend later helped him obtain a Canadian phone number.
He recalled that his first host accommodated him temporarily, but life was extremely difficult, especially as he struggled to adjust to the freezing weather.
Due to financial pressure, Christopher took a study leave without pay for one year and even considered returning to Ghana to resume his teaching job. However, his wife advised against it, explaining that agency jobs in Ghana were not easy to secure.
Determined to survive, Christopher conducted his own research and eventually found work. He revealed that he has done about ten different jobs since arriving in Canada. According to him, jobs are scarce, even for women, and securing employment is not as easy as many people assume.
Currently, Christopher works two jobs, one of which is Uber driving, a role he was already familiar with from his time in Ghana.
Christopher’s story highlights the harsh realities of migration, showing that even professionals must start afresh abroad. His experience serves as a cautionary tale about agent deception and a reminder that success overseas requires resilience, adaptability, and persistence.
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