Popular Ghanaian MC Adom Hemaa Joba’s story is one of resilience, struggle, and hard-earned wisdom. Having lived in America for over two decades, she has experienced firsthand the harsh realities of life abroad—particularly the challenges of securing legal residency, known as “Nkrataa.”
Born and raised in Kwahu, Ghana, Adom Hemaa and her twin sister, Obaasima, grew up in extreme poverty. Their mother, a single parent, worked tirelessly to support them, often relying on faith to provide their daily meals.
Despite their hardships, the twins persevered, eventually making a name for themselves in business and event hosting.
Adom Hemaa became a sought-after MC, and her sister built a career in politics, aligning with the NPP, while Adom Hemaa identified with the NDC.
In 2000, Adom Hemaa’s husband traveled abroad, and soon after, she followed him to the United States on a religious visa.
She was a Methodist and had been invited to a conference, a rare opportunity she believed was divinely orchestrated.
Once in the U.S., however, she encountered the harsh realities of immigration. Without proper documentation, she spent 13 years desperately trying to secure her legal status, pouring $57,000 into the process.
The financial and emotional toll was unbearable—at one point, she even considered ending her life.
The consequences of her undocumented status were devastating. When her sister passed away, she couldn’t return to Ghana to mourn. When her father died in 2007, her son was just six weeks old, and she was unable to attend the funeral.
The most heartbreaking moment came in 2012 when her mother, the woman who had sacrificed everything for her children, passed away.
Adom Hemaa was eight months pregnant at the time, and the grief triggered labor. On the day her mother was laid in state, she was rushed to the hospital, where doctors struggled to detect her blood pressure. Her senior pastor, a Ghanaian educator in America, followed the ambulance and stood by her side as she fought to survive childbirth amid unbearable sorrow.
Reflecting on her experiences, Adom Hemaa warns others against the blind pursuit of life abroad.
She urges Ghanaians to think twice before selling their cocoa farms or houses in hopes of a better future overseas, emphasizing that life abroad is about survival, not luxury.
She describes the constant fear that undocumented immigrants endure—always looking over their shoulders, panicking at the sight of police, and living with the uncertainty of deportation.
She also shares insights on marriage abroad, noting that the traditional Ghanaian dynamic does not always apply.
Here, men and women must work together—cooking, cleaning, and making joint decisions. A man cannot simply declare himself the head of the house and expect submission; rather, marriage requires teamwork and mutual respect.
Despite everything, Adom Hemaa remains grateful for God’s guidance. She has learned that peace is not something one can buy—it is a gift. She encourages Ghanaians to stick to their plans and build a future at home rather than waste their youth chasing documents that may never come.
Her story serves as a cautionary tale: If you do not have “Nkrataa,” stay home. The price of chasing it may be more than you can bear.
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