Nana King, a Ghanaian taxi driver based in New York, is a regular guest on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show hosted by DJ Nyaami. During a recent discussion, he shared his personal experiences about life abroad, the challenges immigrants face, and why many Africans misunderstand the so-called “easy life” overseas.
According to Nana King, a recent snowfall forced him to park his taxi by the roadside. By morning, all four of his car tyres had been cut and removed. He believes the attackers attempted to steal the car but failed to access it, so they vandalized it instead. To make matters worse, he had to call a towing service, which charged him $100 for barely one mile. Replacing the four tyres cost him over $700 in one morning. He considers himself lucky that the attackers only damaged the car and did not physically harm him.
Nana King stressed that safety abroad often depends on how well you understand and blend into the system. According to him, dressing and behaving like a Black American can sometimes reduce the risk of being targeted for robbery. “When you go to Rome, you do what the Romans do,” he said, explaining how adapting helped him survive.
He also shared his journey across different U.S. states. When he first arrived in America, he lived in Virginia, Maryland, and Chicago before finally settling in New York. He realized that driving a taxi in New York was more profitable, while other cities felt colder, lonelier, and less rewarding.
On government systems, Nana King explained that social support in the U.S. is strictly income-based. Individuals earning below a certain amount—around $500 a week—may qualify for food assistance. However, once income increases, those benefits are withdrawn. According to him, the system is designed in a way that makes it difficult to earn more money while still receiving government support.
He added that homelessness assistance also comes with strict rules. Shelters require residents to return by a specific time, usually around 9 p.m., and actively search for work. Those who refuse job opportunities risk being removed from the shelter. In his view, the system is structured to keep people constantly spending on bills rather than building wealth.
Nana King also compared African countries, stating that Benin Republic currently has better road networks and university systems than Ghana. He criticized low wages in Ghana and suggested that increasing the minimum daily wage to at least 100 Ghana cedis could reduce the number of young people traveling to countries like Kuwait and Dubai in search of work.
He shared personal sacrifices as well, revealing that his wife completed her training in Ghana but waited five years without posting. During that time, he supported her financially until she eventually relocated to the United States. He noted that while people risk their lives trying to join the military in Ghana, finding work or joining the military in the U.S. is comparatively easier.
In another experience, Nana King recounted buying two cars for hired drivers. One driver failed to return earnings within the first two weeks, and the following week he had the driver arrested and retrieved the vehicle—highlighting the importance of trust and accountability in business.
He concluded by saying that staying in Ghana for five years without progress can feel like earning a degree with no reward, emphasizing the need for systemic change at home. While life abroad offers opportunities, Nana King warned that it also comes with harsh realities many people are not prepared for.
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