Stephen Ampadu Bonsu: From Ghanaian Teacher to UK Healthcare Worker
Stephen Ampadu Bonsu, a Ghanaian currently based in the United Kingdom, recently appeared on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show hosted by DJ Nyaami. Stephen lives in Kent and has been in the UK for a year and a half. Before moving abroad, he worked as a mathematics teacher in Ghana.
He studied at the University of Education, Winneba, and completed his national service at Kumasi Wesley Girls in 2010. Afterward, he taught at Tweneboah Kodua Senior High School, handling both core and elective mathematics. He also spent three years teaching at Fawade-Effiduase before moving to Prempeh College, where he taught from 2017 to 2023.
Teaching runs in his blood — his father, Rev. Ampadu Bonsu, was also a math teacher. Stephen credits his father for inspiring him to follow the same path. Despite the low pay, he never gave up on teaching. “I built my life from teaching,” he said. “Through hard work and God’s blessings, I was able to start building a storey building, buy cars — including one for my wife — and send my children to better schools.”
Although he didn’t do any side hustles, he earned well through extra classes, which became so popular that even students from other schools joined. However, things took a downturn when the government tried to ban extra classes — his main source of income. That was when he realized it was time to leave Ghana.
Stephen and his wife started working on plans to travel abroad. Though they lost GH¢25,000 to a fraudulent agent, a former student’s parent helped him secure an opportunity in the UK. Eventually, he and his wife moved, leaving their children in Ghana temporarily. Within six months, they brought their kids to join them.
Stephen revealed some of the challenges teachers face in Ghana, including headmasters demanding bribes before confirming appointments. He shared the story of a colleague who had to pay GH¢7,000 despite being qualified for a posting.
Originally, Stephen applied to teach in the UK, but the process delayed, so he came under a healthcare sponsorship instead. The care company handled his relocation, picked him up from the airport, and accommodated him during his training. Meanwhile, his wife stayed with a friend before settling in.
“I spent 38 years in Ghana,” he said. “But just two years in the UK have made a bigger impact. If I had gotten this opportunity earlier, things would be different.” Although transitioning from teaching to healthcare wasn’t easy, he embraced it. “The love I had for teaching, I put into healthcare. That’s why I’m succeeding here.”
Currently under a five-year contract, Stephen is also pursuing health-related courses to expand his knowledge, with the aim of helping his wife open a clinic one day. Although he applied for some teaching positions in the UK, they didn’t work out initially, so he focused on healthcare.
Stephen pointed out that although the monthly salary is about £1,400, rent and expenses make saving difficult. “If you’re alone as a man, bills can break you. That’s why I insisted my wife and I move together — we support each other and save together.”
The couple recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary, and Stephen is taking courses to improve his teaching and leadership skills. He admitted that life abroad can sometimes be lonely and that Ghanaians abroad often feel isolated. “In Ghana, you could chat for five hours; here, everyone is busy.”
Despite the challenges, Stephen believes moving abroad was the right decision. “In Ghana, even with my part-time teaching, I never earned less than GH¢10,000 monthly,” he said. “But when I saw the system changing, I adjusted too.”
His advice: “Abroad is not bad — it all depends on how you come and your purpose. If you’re earning less than GH¢10,000 a month in Ghana and get the chance to travel, go for it. But come through the right channels. Some people came through agencies and are now facing deportation because they don’t get enough hours to meet requirements.”
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