Samuel, a Ghanaian living in Saudi Arabia, shared his story with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide.
He explained that life in Saudi Arabia depends largely on the company that brings you in. After completing SHS, he had the opportunity to further his education, but he declined, seeking financial independence instead. His father wanted to send him to school, but he insisted on finding his own way. He even tried to get his brother to help him travel to Germany, but that plan failed. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he traveled there for work experience but later returned to Ghana.
In 2020, he was actively involved in politics as a member of the NDC in Ellembelle, where he was a youth organizer. However, after their election loss, he decided to leave home and explore other opportunities. To fund his travel, he engaged in small-scale mining (galamsey). A friend introduced him to an agent who promised to help him travel, but the agent scammed him. Eventually, Samuel informed his father, who confronted the agent, but the money was never refunded.
In 2023, the same agent reached out again, claiming there was an opportunity for cleaning jobs in Saudi Arabia. Samuel, unfamiliar with men working as cleaners in Qatar, was skeptical but went for an interview. He was selected, and his visa was issued on December 11, 2023. He left Ghana on January 21, 2024. However, upon arrival, things were not as promised. The company that initially recruited them transferred them to another company, which operates a fast-food chain called Kudu, similar to KFC but with more branches.
Samuel changed his money into local currency and helped those around him, expecting the company to provide the promised allowance. However, he later discovered that previous batches had arrived in 2022 under similar conditions. When their contracts ended, they were asked to pay 1,000 Saudi riyals to extend their stay.
In total, he had spent roughly GHC 20,000 on his journey to Saudi Arabia. He later realized that the agent had charged them for services already covered by the company. Instead of direct employment, they were placed in a cleaning services company, and their tickets had actually been paid for by the company.
Before traveling, the agent had given them a letter instructing them to deny paying any fees if questioned upon arrival. Samuel admitted that he didn’t thoroughly read the documents because he had already spent so much money. At the airport, just 20 minutes before departure, an immigration officer informed him that he should have listened to the agent’s instructions. This made him and his colleagues furious.
They were required to work 12-hour shifts, not just cleaning but also doing other labor-intensive tasks. There were three of them, and when they requested their documents, the company demanded 10,000 Saudi riyals (GHC 40,000) before they could be released to return to Ghana. One of the men lost his father three days after arriving, but he was unable to return home due to financial constraints.
Saudi laws required them to stay for six months, but if there was an emergency, the company could fly them back to Ghana for 120 days. However, their employer told the recruitment agent that Ghanaians were lazy and didn’t like working, so they refused to send them back.
The salary was 1,000 Saudi riyals (GHC 4,000), with an additional GHC 1,300 as a food allowance. Initially, they were told they would be paid directly, but that did not happen. Samuel eventually left the company and found another job through connections. This new job, which was “under the table,” paid 2,700 Saudi riyals (GHC 12,000). However, after working for four months, they were warned not to return to that job.
Now, he wants to return to Ghana but is blacklisted by the company, along with many other Ghanaians in Saudi Arabia. When he visited the Ghanaian embassy in Riyadh, they referred him to the labor office, but the labor office sent him back to the embassy. His earnings have been depleted, and deportation is difficult because of the money they must pay to be released.
During his short time in Saudi Arabia, he managed to work for 3-4 months and used his earnings to buy 32 motorbikes for his business back home. His father also bought motorbikes for him, and he personally purchased one for GHC 13,500. However, since he is blacklisted, he can’t work to pay off his debts.
Previously, he had spent GHC 9,000 to travel to Qatar, believing he would make enough money to succeed. So, when the opportunity to go to Saudi Arabia came, he thought investing GHC 20,000 would be worthwhile. Now, he regrets not using that money to start a business in Ghana.
Samuel shared that he is a Jehovah’s Witness and admitted that many Ghanaians in Saudi Arabia are struggling. Some women face abuse, are denied their wages, and eventually get sacked. He believes that finding a good company is the only way to survive there.
Now, he is appealing to the Ghanaian government for assistance, emphasizing that he is a card-bearing NDC member. He specifically called on political figures like Okudzeto Ablakwa to help him and others in similar situations. He also mentioned his admiration for Kwaku Manu and Captain Smart, hoping his story will reach them.
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