Francis is a Ghanaian based in the United Kingdom, where he has lived for 19 years. He recently relocated from London to Birmingham—a decision he describes as one of the best he has ever made.
In an interview with Dj Nyaami Francis revealed That Growing up in Ghana, Francis was a village boy who always knew he wanted more from life. He completed secondary school in 2012 and worked as a storekeeper for some time. The shop owner lived in the UK, which exposed Francis to new ways of thinking. During this period, he also connected with people involved in land and wood sales, especially as road construction opened up new opportunities in his area.
Although he was doing fairly well in Ghana—owning land, building a house, running a store, and paying taxes—friends kept encouraging him to travel abroad. In 2016, Francis saved £4,500, secured a connection, and moved to the UK on a six-month visa.
Before leaving Ghana, he had tried three times to join the army but was unsuccessful. Ironically, after arriving in the UK, he later succeeded in joining the army under the Commonwealth recruitment process. When he arrived in the UK, he stayed with his uncle, who hosted him.
Francis initially planned to return to Ghana, but his brother advised him to stay and try again. Unfortunately, he failed his first army test and was asked to retake it two weeks later. By then, his visa was close to expiring. He was given documents to renew it through an express process, but due to financial challenges, he lost the opportunity. As a result, Francis stayed home for nine months without work, leaving the house only to attend church on Fridays and Sundays.
One day, after attending church, he approached someone for help finding a job. The man introduced him to plastering work. Though the job was dirty and physically demanding, Francis accepted it. It took him six months to stabilize financially, after which he began getting daily work.
Two years later, Francis got married and later became a father. His wife initially struggled financially, selling tomatoes that often spoiled. Determined to improve their situation, Francis learned a technical skill without pay, later bought his own machine, and began earning more income.
Although he was not satisfied with the dirty nature of his job, he remained focused. He upgraded his skills, secured better certifications, and eventually got opportunities across different parts of London. Later, he moved to Birmingham in search of a bigger home for his family. They rented a spacious three-bedroom house, and the move significantly improved their quality of life.
Francis later enrolled in a professional course costing £3,500, which included CV preparation and job placement support. Despite fear created by misinformation among migrants abroad, he pushed forward. His first role after the course was as a site manager, earning managerial pay even though the responsibilities were initially light.
Today, at 35 years old, Francis is a father of four. His wife works in the care sector and is now a manager. They have never relied on social benefits. Together, they own more than 10 plots of land in Ghana and have completed building a house.
Francis has been married for eight years and strongly believes that anyone traveling abroad must have a clear plan. He notes that some people become lazy after securing residency, abusing credit cards and loans. He personally sponsored his brother’s move to the UK at a cost of £9,000, recovering £6,000 from him later.
Professionally, Francis manages about 19 people and works closely with plumbers and carpenters. He emphasizes that confidence is key, especially when working with white colleagues in the UK. His company provides fuel, and he drives a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLA, which he also uses for construction-related work.
Three years ago, Francis visited Ghana and stayed with a friend because his own project was still ongoing. He paused construction for six years to focus on securing housing in the UK before completing his Ghana project.
Francis praises his wife as a strong and supportive woman. His store in Ghana now sells building materials, and he believes mindset is everything when traveling abroad.
According to him, with the right training and certification, someone in construction can earn up to £56,000 a year in the UK. Some roles involve minimal physical work, company vehicles, fuel benefits, and excellent pay.
“The youth must ask questions and seek guidance,” Francis advises. “There are good jobs in the UK, but you need the right information.”
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