Come back to Ghana if Europe or America is difficult - Efia Odo to Ghanaian migrants

Ghanaian socialite and influencer, Efia Odo, who boasts over a million followers on X (formerly known as Twitter), has ignited a debate with her recent tweet addressing Ghanaians living abroad. 

In the tweet, Efia Odo known in her private life as Andrea Owusu expressed her views on the challenges faced by Ghanaians in Europe and America, suggesting they should consider returning to their homeland if the situation becomes too strenuous.

She tweeted: "I never understand why some Ghanaians abroad  are always complaining about the hardships they’re facing. Come back to Ghana if Europe or America is difficult. Like shut up! You know damn well you’d rather be there than in Ghana".

The tweet, which has garnered a mixed response from her followers and the wider online community, has reignited discussions surrounding the experience of Ghanaians in the diaspora and their ties to their home country.

While some applauded Odo for her candid perspective, others found fault with her assertion, pointing out the complex and multifaceted reasons why Ghanaians migrate and the challenges they face both in their adopted countries and upon returning home.

This statement from Efia Odo has opened up a dialogue about the economic, social, and emotional factors influencing the decisions of Ghanaians living abroad, as well as the broader conversation about national identity and the diaspora's connection to Ghana.

According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census Thematic Report released by the Ghana Statistical Service in March, there was a marginal increase in the number of Ghanaians who travelled and settled outside Ghana in 2021.

The figure increased to 269,531 from 250,624 which was recorded in 2010 with Europe, the Americas (North, South and Caribbean) and African countries outside of ECOWAS being their most favoured destinations.

Reasons

According to the report, the two major reasons the respondents gave for travelling outside the country were to seek employment (73.3 per cent) and to pursue education/training (14.6 per cent). Others cited marriage/family reunification and settlement (long-term/permanent stay) as their reasons for relocation.