Isaac Adjei: 52 Years in America, The Reality of Life Abroad & Ghana’s Endless Struggles
Isaac Adjei, a Ghanaian based in the United States, has lived in America for 52 years. A returning guest on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide Show with DJ Nyaami, he recently shared his thoughts on life in America, immigration, Ghana’s development, and global politics.
Isaac, who resides in Indiana, describes it as a “heavy red state,” noting that law enforcement is strict, especially on immigrants. He believes that democracy only thrives where educated individuals lead, but in America, 70% of citizens are ignorant.
“Most Americans don’t even know where Elon Musk was born—they assume he’s American, yet he was born in Pretoria, South Africa.”
Isaac argues that people from every part of the world are present in America, but how foreigners live determines their fate. “Americans monitor how foreigners behave, and if they feel threatened, deportation follows.” He also believes the U.S. is facing a reset, with European countries also tightening immigration policies.
Having left Ghana in 1973, Isaac has seen the stark contrast between life abroad and back home. He criticizes the lack of innovation in Ghana, saying,
“When people travel, they should take ideas back home. Someone visited London, saw a roundabout, and went to Ghana just to change streets into roundabouts instead of introducing real development.”
He also sheds light on the exploitation in the travel industry, stating,
“Fake documents sell for $30,000, while travel agencies buy visa appointment dates and resell them for $500.”
According to Isaac, Ghana’s challenges—bribery, corruption, poor roads, and high rent—are deeply rooted and won’t be fixed by any president.
“Mahama should reset bribery, corruption, and ridiculous monthly rents. Even in expensive areas like East Legon, the roads are still terrible.”
Isaac, who has lived in both Massachusetts and Indiana, believes the system in America works. However, he refuses to invest in Ghana, saying,
“I don’t own any property in Ghana, and I won’t buy one. Whenever I visit, I stay in hotels and pay $150 per night for my safety.”
Isaac claims many white men visit Ghana mainly for women, not for development. He also warns that countries with a strong presence of Lebanese, Syrians, and Chinese often struggle economically.
“If you see many Chinese in a country, just know that the country is not working. Many of them are even ex-convicts from prison.”
Isaac urges Ghanaians to rethink their approach to development. Instead of staying abroad to enjoy progress made by others, he believes travelers should bring back innovative ideas to uplift Ghana.
“People should introduce new innovations to Ghana, not just admire them abroad and expect someone else to do it.”
His message is clear—until mindsets change, Ghana will only get worse.
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