Richard’s Journey: A Ghanaian’s Struggles in South Africa
Richard, a Ghanaian based in South Africa, lives in Johannesburg, Eginbell, near the airport. He left Ghana in 2008, but before that, he resided in Ayigya Small Village, opposite KNUST in Kumasi, where he spent his entire childhood.
Back in Ghana, Richard ran a CD shop but lost his business due to a demolition exercise that cleared roadside shops. Since he wasn’t paying rent, he had managed to save money, but the sudden destruction of his shop left him frustrated. Discussing his struggles with friends, one of them mentioned knowing someone in South Africa. Initially, Richard wanted to go to Switzerland, and with the support of a Swiss friend, he secured funds for his travel.
He went to Accra to begin the visa process but was informed that he needed to first travel to South Africa to apply for a Swiss visa. At that time, the Swiss Embassy was not in Ghana, so he chose South Africa instead. He paid GHS 10,000(equivalent to 100 million old cedis) to an agent. Along with four other people, including three students from KNUST, Richard traveled to South Africa with hopes of securing a visa to Switzerland.
Unfortunately, after arriving in South Africa, the agent disappeared, leaving them stranded in a hotel. The three students returned to Ghana to continue their education, but Richard and another companion, who had sold all their belongings to finance the trip, had no choice but to stay and survive.
With only $300 left, Richard sought refuge with some Ghanaians in South Africa, but many were scammers. One of them owned a salon. At one point, while he was asleep, someone even falsely pronounced him dead, attempting to evict him from the room he was staying in.
As his visa was about to expire in a month, he faced a tough decision: return to Ghana or stay illegally. He ultimately chose to stay. However, the people he trusted took advantage of him—they promised to exchange his remaining $300 for local currency but instead stole it. Now completely broke, he had no money for food or shelter.
Determined to survive, he searched for a job. Many Ghanaians warned him against working for white employers, saying they were strict. Ignoring the warnings, he approached a white employer, who gave him a job.
However, his challenges didn’t end there. Some Congolese colleagues conspired against him, but their plan failed. Eventually, he was moved to work in a warehouse producing sugar. Later, another white employer offered him a job at an engineering company, which he accepted. This company sponsored him to obtain a driver’s license and other necessary documents.
Richard has lived in South Africa for 17 years, but he doesn’t recommend it to anyone. If he had gone to Europe, he believes he would have achieved much more. Despite spending nearly two decades in South Africa, he still doesn’t have a residence permit or legal documents. Even if he wanted to marry a South African woman, he would have to return to Ghana and apply for a visa from there.
He currently lives with a South African woman, who has been supportive but has endured many struggles. Though she hasn’t given birth, he isn’t concerned because he doesn’t want to raise a child under South Africa’s harsh conditions. Richard has one child in Ghana, but he has not seen them in 17 years.
His biggest regret is missing the funeral of his beloved grandfather, whom he couldn’t return home to bury.
Richard acknowledges that scams in South Africa are even worse than in Ghana. Many people are easily deceived and lose their money. Although he initially wanted to move to Germany or Switzerland, he now plans to return to Ghana to start a business and settle permanently.
He currently works for someone involved in visa processing, who helps people travel to places like Bangladesh and Pakistan. However, Richard isn’t interested in those destinations. If they processed visas for Europe, he would have considered it. Even if he wanted to apply for a visa now, he lacks the necessary residency documents.
Looking for a Long-Lost Friend
On SVTV Africa, Richard shared that he is searching for Sister Bernice, a corrections officer. Her husband was a chief inspector, known as Nana. The family was originally in Accra, but Bernice later moved to Kumasi because of work. He remembers their son was named Kwame, and they had a sister named Jemima.
The last time Richard saw Sister Bernice was over 20 years ago, and he has been unable to locate her since. He remembers her as a kind and supportive person.
Richard warns that South Africa is not the paradise many people believe it to be. He has seen people sleeping in front of stores and wasting their hard-earned money in the country. He strongly advises anyone thinking of moving to South Africa to reconsider their decision.
His dream now is to resign from his job, return to Ghana, and start a business so he never has to leave home again.
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