Why this African American couple left Ghana after one year? | Juliana and Brian's journey in Ghana

[ras]

As a Ghanaian, born and raised in Ghana for 30years, I always laugh at the way Ghana is being romanticized by people from outside..
Yes, there is good social life and communal spirit down there. But, But, But, that social life and communal spirit comes at a price..
Ghanaians are generally friendly people.
At the same time, there is greed, corruption, tribalism, classism, bad leadership, and etc etc...
Its all about finding a balance and learning how to navigate. But dont romanticize..

[revekat]

Rule #1. Don’t ever move somewhere where the residents are trying to escape.

[cindimarvelous]

We moved to Ghana from Florida and we are from Jamaica originally. As Jamaican we have no issues with Ghana because it is just like Jamaica! As Americans I can see how it would be a cultural shock just moving here. It is not America and if you come here expecting the same policy you will be in for a rude awakening. We love it here! This is just one couples experience.

Update: 10/20/23
Seven months later..
They were ABSOLUTELY right! It’s a hype. The country is beyond third world, everyone here including the expats are hungry and will try to capitalize off of foreigners. When I said it’s just like Jamaica.. yes Jamaica 30+ years ago!!!! Outside of Accra everything else is third worldly.. there is no infrastructure. No bathrooms anywhere, gutters and moldy buildings, the people take no pride in their environment, unfinished buildings with raw blocks with a roof no paint, no flowers, dirt roads, no sidewalks.. little shops everywhere ..they litter everywhere, urinate and deficate wherever. Women are spoken down to if the men do speak to you. It is not cheaper here at all!! They capitalize off of the slave trade.. he is absolutely right when he spoke about the people that helped enslaved their own. Many still have that mentality. I was attacked by 4 men at the slave castle in Cape Coast because they wanted me to pay.. I’ve been there so many times and never had to pay!! I honestly thought they were scammers because they wouldn’t show me id when asked.. the way they treated me and grabbed me then threw me to the floor in front of white people at the slave castle!! What really hurt is that on all of my social media platforms, I shine positives on this country, but I feel like a hypocrite because I don’t talk about the negative..I honestly wish it was different and I am truly saddened that it isn’t.. I’m sick to my stomach to the point of severe depression 😢! Local people will tell me to go back where you came from then, ( completely understandable because if anyone said anything negative about Jamaica, even though we knew they were telling the truth, we would find offense) but we gave up everything we had to come here and it’s been a horrible experience for me personally.

[Daisparadise]

Honestly I think this is a problem with romanticizing anywhere in general. As someone from the Caribbean I see African Americans romanticize other Black cultures and locations a lot. I understand that we want to stay connected to our heritage but you need to do your research and learn the culture, language, history, economy and visit before you move someplace. One major thing is you know you need money to live. A steady stream of income(s) is necessary before moving anywhere. You can’t just up and go and think you’re going to fully acclimate so easily. I think also there’s a need for Black Americans to start being proud of what they have built in America. Black Americans didn’t just “come from slaves” (as stated in the video). They rose up and defended themselves in many ways. Rebelled. Fought for their rights. And made space for themselves in America. Be proud of that too. In the Caribbean, many people honor their African heritage, but they also honor the home they built for themselves outside of Africa. Black Americans can do the same.

[weenaburris]

We, the Black American population of the USA should really understand and be comfortable with who we are. Some of us want to claim to be African....via whatever country. But the truth is we are the Americans of African descent. Yes our past generations were 100% African and we should hold that close to our hearts and learn all we can, but we also gotta stop trying to fit in a place that we aren't truly familiar with. I love getting to know more about the many different countries in Africa and the people and many cultures...but it all takes time. It is nice to visit many places, but its not always nice to move in. 😗

[louiskwaku]

I have been saying this for years. Ghana is not for everyone. I was born and raised there. I had to come to Canada to make it in life. One of the richest nation in terms of natural resources but clueless leaders and corrupt politicians make it impossible for the people to realize their dreams.

[BrownSugarBabe]

I travel, but I would never leave America to live somewhere else. This is the land of my family. America is where my tribe is my clan, my support system, my community. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[mintybadger]

My fathers family came to the USA from Romania back in the 30’s. When he retired from the military he decided to relocate the family to Romania - with the idea that since we were of Romanian ancestry and even had very Romanian surname - I think he thought we’d fit right in and live nicely off his retirement pension. We did live well but we still came back to the states after a year. It didn’t matter to the locals that we had Romanian bonafides - we were always outsiders. Rich outsiders (to them) and possible green cards but forever foreign. I loved the country, I loved my friends but I didn’t feel that deep connection I’d hoped for as a young teenage girl.

[Krakatoax]

I've always said the hype about my country was too much. A month's holiday is enough to keep positive memories. If you want to live in Ghana, you need to recalibrate your mentality to suit our environment where the average Ghanaian thrives on corruption and greed. The system is broken and getting worse by the day. Sustainability is an issue on all fronts and it is not for the faint-hearted.

[itskv]

What I’m getting from this is that they did not do their due diligence or come up with a solid plan before moving to Ghana. It sounds like they hadn’t even visited Ghana before moving, which by itself is a big mistake. Americans and other Westerners should not get caught up in the hype of repatriating back to the motherland. Africa is not a utopia, and has qualms and issues of its own. You have to do extensive research of where you plan to go, before uprooting your life and moving there, otherwise you will be frustrated. If you have issues in your life abroad, then you’ll have issues in Africa. Africa wont solve your issues. And my perspective is one of someone who has lived both in the USA and in the continent. All of that being said, living in Africa, can be amazing if you plan and set up your life in such a way that you can be self-sufficient while living there and also staying in your own homestead where you have ownership and thus control. Don’t come to Africa without some sort of business plan, skill or trade, or money to invest because you will need to serve and contribute to the economy and community before you earn anyone’s respect there.

[john-phyllissanders]

I'm a Black American...the United States will always be "home"...inspite of itself!!!❤💙❤🖤💚

[Eggsandwhichwithbeans]

I am a black American, and I have an apartment in Nigeria. No offense to them but it seems to me as if they did not do their proper research or homework before naïvely moving to Ghana. You have to have a plan and funds. I have to blame you for not preparing yourself properly. You cannot move to another country without money I know for a fact in Nigeria I need to have money to be able to survive just like in America or anywhere you go for that matter, please take heed everybody and have a plan. It’s not as hard as you think it is. I hope you 2 try again and prepare yourself better next time. You deserve to go home 💜

[ericpowell]

It's sounds like their biggest problems have been covered by several people on YouTube over several years. (1) You cannot move anywhere without making several trips to visit first. (2) You need to have enough money to weather the storms. (Seems like common sense.) (3) You have to adapt to a new culture and level of existence. This isn't like catching a Greyhound from Cleveland to Atlanta and just making a way.

[dhaleyster]

It’s takes courage for anyone to post a video showing their personal journey of growth. Especially when that growth is in a different direction that was NOT planned.

[milesblue]

This video danced around the reasons why they left Ghana. Instead, it focused much more on the reasons they went to Ghana and on the bits of charity they did while there. The root of their troubles was lack of due diligence in planning. Neither had a real plan nor any real sense of what they would confront. They were also too broke to make the leap. If you can't make it in America, you won't make it anywhere else.

[ddavis]

I tell people all the time, if you're gonna go over seas to live, you gotta have MONEY.

Not hopes, dreams, and faith. MONEY.

Having your mental and spirtual right is necessary as well. But it makes it 10 times harder if you're broke.

[TheMobileNest]

It’s sad that we romanticize Africa the way we do. Reminds me of kids who still look for love and approval of the parent who abandoned them.
Enough of the searching and more with creating who we now are.

[kathleendantzler]

I visited Ghana back in 2016. I realized how much we African Americans are very different from West Africans. Although I enjoyed myself I couldn’t relate to Ghanaians. They were culturally very different. I do plan on returning, but just to visit. People need to research before deciding to move there.

[rafiqtsm]

Most African Americans are going to be very shocked about the amount of corrupt and dysfunctional government policies in place in Ghana.

Ghana has soooo much potential but the culture just refuses to embrace ethical business practices that would make it more friendly for expats to invest. If you’re trying to start a business there it is a nightmare: you have to grease the pockets of almost everyone you meet just to get bare minimum paperwork moving forward.

If you’re in the market and they hear your accent they will jump the price up really high right in front of your face. The police in certain areas are always trying to get money off you.

The school systems are far behind unless you pay for private school. Even then it will be behind the standards in most areas. Then you end up front back in schools were majority white kids go.

Folks really want to come back but the path to doing so is just unnecessary difficult. Meanwhile we can go to UAE and be able to set up a business in 90 days to get residency status. Super easy. No greasing palms every step of the way. Very respectful and honor service employees.

UAE has its problems but they treat Expats like gold. So many Africans countries grace sooo much potential but their shootings themselves in the foot with all the scamming and corruption.

[alima]

I haven't even watched the video and I know the ultimate sentiment. Originally from NY, but a California resident married a Ghanaian . The cultural differences and the subservient expectations of being a wife were too much. We are separated, though not divorced, although it's been almost 15 years. Initially he kept trying to get me to return to Ghana with him. I said "Hell to the Nah!" He currently resides in the Midwest and we are good friends. Over the years, I had learned so much of their archaic beliefs and the differences between our freedoms versus the limitations in the Motherland. The majority of his family lives in Virginia and Northern California, so I've had plenty of interaction . I can honestly say, keep your Black Azz here!👌🏾