Akua’s Journey: From Ghana to Canada – The Struggles and Lessons Learned
Akua decided to share her story to inspire young people, especially those considering moving abroad. Akua was a guest on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide with DJ Nyaami, where she opened up about her experiences.
Currently living in Bowman, a short drive from Edmonton, Canada, Akua moved there in 2022 after her husband sponsored her.
Before that, she lived in Atinsu, Kuwait, and studied Human Resource Management at Kumasi Polytechnic (now Kumasi Technical University) and Ghana Baptist University.
From a young age, Akua loved hairdressing, but her life took a turn when she got married in 2019 and later relocated to Canada.
Akua’s love story started in 2013 when she was in polytechnic. A classmate, who was dating her husband’s friend, unknowingly introduced them. On Akua’s birthday, the friend used her picture as her display photo (DP), catching her future husband’s attention. He asked for Akua’s number, but the friend refused to share it because she had her own interest in him.
However, when his friend visited Ghana, he sought Akua out and gave her number to her husband. They began chatting, and the rest is history.
The same friend who initially blocked their connection later badmouthed Akua to her husband, but he didn’t believe the lies. Akua, through prayer and patience, eventually married him, and they have been together for seven years. She warns women to be careful of friends who claim to help but secretly have their own agendas.
Adjusting to life in Canada was not easy. Akua got pregnant with her second child soon after arriving, making things even more challenging. She had to care for her four-year-old while pregnant, managing everything alone because her husband worked long hours.
She emphasizes that while being married to a “Borga” (a Ghanaian living abroad) seems appealing, the reality is different. Many women in Ghana pressure their husbands abroad to bring them over without understanding the struggles they face.
She also shares the story of a woman whose husband lived in a shelter after arriving in Canada, yet she kept pressuring him to send for her. Akua advises Ghanaian women to be patient and realistic about the difficulties of life abroad.
Determined to make something of herself, Akua pursued her passion for hairdressing. She enrolled in a cosmetology school, where she learned hairstyling techniques suitable for different hair types, including those of white clients. She also hopes to learn barbering and eventually open her own salon.
She regrets not learning how to braid and do cornrows earlier, realizing now that it could have been a lucrative skill. However, she encourages everyone to learn a trade before traveling abroad, as skilled jobs provide stability.
Akua strongly advises against selling property or valuable assets just to move abroad. She stresses that getting permanent residency is difficult, and seeking asylum is even harder. She believes it’s better to visit first rather than permanently relocating without a solid plan.
Her story serves as a cautionary tale for those who romanticize life overseas. While opportunities exist, they come with significant challenges that many are unprepared for.
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