It is risky to migrate without clear purpose - Nana Ama Adu-Kwapong

Seeking greener pastures in the Western world can seem appealing, but the harsh reality of becoming an illegal or undocumented migrant can lead to numerous hardships. 
The potential years of homelessness, hunger, begging, disrespect, abuse, illness, and inability to return to one’s home country, makes it a risky choice.

An author, Nana Ama Adu-Kwapong, who moved to the United Kingdom (UK) 21 years ago noted that she has witnessed these struggles firsthand.

In an interview with The Mirror in Accra last week, she mentioned many heartbreaking stories she had heard from Africans, including Ghanaians who migrated to the UK under challenging circumstances.

“Sadly, they often paint a picture of bliss and instant success to family and friends back home, often out of embarrassment, forgetting to mention that it is not all roses and sunshine,” she said.

Such stories inspired her to write her first book, Beyond the Greener Pastures, launched on August 6, 2024.

She noted that this collection of real-life experiences recounts the stories and struggles of five Ghanaian friends who moved to the UK and aims to caution the youth about the risks of 'jakpaing' without a clear purpose.

Mrs Adu-Kwapong is a journalist, author, homemaker, and advocate. She holds a Master of Science in Gender, Development, and Globalisation from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a Bachelor of Arts in English with Philosophy from the University of Ghana and a Diploma in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. 

She also attended Achimota Basic School and St Mary’s Senior High School.

Born on August 5, 1978, to Mrs Esther Nimako-Boateng and the late Mr Joseph Nimako-Boateng, and the third of four children, the author moved to the UK in 2003 to join her husband, who she prefered not to mention.

Speaking about her early days of joblessness in the UK and the frustration of being told she was over qualified for a role, Mrs Adu-Kwapong recalled how she ended up washing dishes at a school, despite holding a Master’s degree from a UK university.

“I was searching for a white-collar job after my Master’s degree and even attended several job fairs, where I dropped over 100 CVs but there was initially not one invitation for an interview. When I heard about a dishwashing/kitchen assistant job, unbeknown to my husband, I would sneak out while he was at work to wash dishes and earn some money,” she recalled.

She added that she worked as a kitchen assistant at the school for at least six months before working in the role of Office Manager of the European Head Office of Population Services International (PSI), a non-profit organisation, which was working on family planning, clean water projects and malaria prevention/reduction in developing countries.

About 10 years ago, she noted that she started volunteering with a charity supporting refugees, asylum seekers and people experiencing homelessness in London. 

She added that this role highlighted the reality of the challenges facing many migrants in the Western world which greatly influenced the writing of her book. 

“During outreach programmes, most of the black people I met opened up to me more as they can identify with me as a fellow black person. and are less guarded with sharing information about themselves. Ghanaians will see my name tag and start speaking Twi while other Africans would still speak English but still be more open’’, she said.

She noted that some people had been in the UK for over 20 years without proper documentation, commonly known as a green card in the US and ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ in the UK and this, or a work permit was essential for working legally and leading a normal life. 

The author said that she encountered individuals who had overstayed their visas and were abused by their own peers or supposed helpers and had to survive by doing very low-paid jobs.

“Some migrants tried to legalise their stay through ‘marriage for papers’ and this can sometimes go wrong. Others, in a bid to sort out their illegal status are swindled out of their cash and or deported penniless.

Some of these people give up good jobs, education, and relatively comfortable lives in Ghana to chase an uncertain future in the West.”, she said. 

Motivation and challenges writing the book
Discussing her motivation and challenges writing the book, Mrs Adu-Kwapong, originally from Koforidua-Juabeng, noted that she was inspired to write after noticing a growing trend of young people 'jakpaing,' often without a clear plan. 

"It saddens me that so many young people in search of more money and a better life are willing to risk their lives, peace, and stability just to be treated as worthless illegal migrants in the west”, she said.

She added that she often wondered how different my life would have been if she had listened to friends who urged her to overstay her visa decades ago when she travelled to the United States as a student on an all-expenses-paid educational trip”, she said.

She felt compelled to share the struggles of these individuals to help others understand the harsh reality behind the pursuit of "greener pastures," which many now see as the only path to success. 

The author noted that her main challenges during this time was balancing her writing with work, and her role as a mother and wife. 

Advocacy
Discussing her advocacy work, the author mentioned her efforts with a team of volunteers to help migrants who were struggling to navigate life in the UK obtain advice and guidance with immigration queries, housing, life in the UK and practical help with food, clothing and other essentials.  

“Recently, we assisted a man who had overstayed his visa for 22 years to finally obtain his ‘Leave to Remain’ visa. This enabled him to begin pursuing his dream of working as a chef, but tragically, he passed away just two months after achieving his dream”, she noted.

She warned that with advancements in systems like biometrics and facial recognition, it has become increasingly difficult to survive without proper documentation.

"Why risk overstaying your visa, only to face mistreatment, deportation, or even a lifetime ban? There are Ghanaians now who could afford to travel overseas for work or on holiday but cannot because they overstayed and were illegal migrants in those countries when they were younger and have therefore been banned from re-entering these countries”, she added.

Future plans
With the release of her first book, Mrs Adu-Kwapong says that she has more work in progress, including a children's book inspired by her three kids. 

"I plan to keep advocating, sharing more stories about the immigrant experience, and connecting with readers and writers who are passionate about telling real, impactful stories”, she told The Mirror.

She hopes her book, available at the Kingdom Bookstore in Ghana and internationally, will encourage people to look deeper, plan carefully and appreciate the courage it takes to start anew in a foreign land.

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