Metropolitan

'Aburokyire Abrabor: Ghanaian life abroad.' is a series featuring the stories of individuals who have travelled to foreign countries for the same purpose; the hope of a better life for themselves and their families. Some are stories of success, but others are not so lucky.

In part seven, we hear of a Ghanaian nurse, who's journey's took him from Ghana to South Africa, to China, and back home, encountering all manner of twists and turns along the way.

My journey began in 2013 when I was working as a nurse in Ghana after graduating from nursing training. After three years, I started questioning the long-term prospects of my career. I realized I wanted more than just working for decades without achieving my full potential. So, I made the bold decision to travel, starting with South Africa as my first destination.

Initially, I arrived in South Africa on a tourist visa with hopes of converting it to a work visa. However, finding a job proved challenging. Despite networking and distributing my CV, it took eight months before I secured employment. During this time, financial strain was significant, compounded by the stronger South African rand compared to the Ghanaian cedi. Fortunately, my girlfriend at the time, also a nurse, supported me as best she could.

Unfortunately, I left my young son in Ghana. No longer in a relationship with his mother, I remained in communication with her, but due to my initial unemployment, our communication became contentious. It was tough sending regular money for my son’s upkeep and this caused difficulties between my sons mother and I. Back in Ghana, my then girlfriend / fiancé, and my mother stepped in with monthly maintenance money for my sons upkeep during the months I was unemployed in South Africa.

Eventually, things improved when my fiancé joined me in South Africa and found a job at a private hospital. I too found work in Witbank, but later faced challenges working with a hostile Nigerian doctor. The Ghanaian owner of the practice wanted me to take over when he took retirement and this caused envy and resentment. The Nigerian doctor attempted to set a trap by going to South African Police and claiming I pulled a gun on him after we had an argument. Police became involved but the truth came out and no further police action was necessary. By then I had my fill and the situation it prompted me to resign and move to Johannesburg. From there, I applied and was accepted into a medical school in China, marking the next chapter of my journey.

Arriving in China presented new challenges, particularly with racism and cultural differences, with many Chinese acting like I was dirty and unhygienic because of my skin colour. Similar to South Africa, I encountered prejudices that were disheartening. However, China offered a different safety perspective compared to South Africa, where I often felt unsafe, particularly due to crime against Africans from other countries.

Throughout my travels, I formed lasting friendships with people from diverse backgrounds, including Ghanaians and international acquaintances. These connections provided a support system that made navigating life in foreign countries more manageable.

Reflecting on my decade-long journey, I acknowledge both the hardships and the personal growth it brought. While I have some regrets, such as leaving a stable job in Ghana, I appreciate the valuable experiences and opportunities I gained abroad. Today, back in Ghana for a visit after nearly a decade away, I cherish the lessons learned and the resilience I developed.

If you would like to contribute stories for publication anonymously, message Karen Mcklaren on facebook or email karen.mcklaren@gmail.com