Why an American Chose to Live in Ghana for 20+ Years (Real Story)
There’s something fascinating about meeting someone who had the whole world to choose from… and still chose Ghana. I recently sat down with Malcolm Aaron, an American who has been living in Ghana for over two decades. Not visiting or just passing through but actually living in the country where he has built a life and chosen to stay.
And I’ll be very honest with you when someone from the U.S. decides to call a place like Ghana home long-term, you actually get confused and start asking questions. What did he see in Ghana that others don’t? What kept him here for years? And what is life in Ghana really like from his perspective? So I asked him everything. Things ranging from his first impressions, to the realities of cost of living, the challenges, the rewards, and even what people completely misunderstand about Africa.
This isn’t one of those surface-level conversations because it is very honest and in many ways eye-opening. Sometimes, it takes an outsider to help you see a place differently. And Malcolm’s story might just change how you see Ghana too. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Kojo: What was your first impression of Ghana?
Malcolm: My first impression of Ghana was mixed. On one hand, many of the natural areas were stunningly beautiful. But some of the urbanized areas had sanitation issues, besides being visibly impoverished. Please note that my first visit was way back in the 1990s. Since then, Ghana has developed significantly. For instance, Accra is a lot more beautiful now than it was back in the days. What also really impressed me from day one was the nature of the people. Ghanaians are friendly and accommodating, having a sound appreciation of human nature, and the culture doesn’t celebrate violence.
Kojo: What inspired you to choose Africa over other destinations such as Asia and Europe?
Malcolm: What inspired me to choose Africa is simply the fact that I’m African-American. I also studied anthropology in college. So I was really curious about the land of my ancestry. I wanted to see how Black people lived in their natural environments.
Kojo: How does the cost of living compare to the United States?
Malcolm: For starters, let me say that inflation is everywhere. Africans complain about rising costs just like Americans do, though these days, I think the United States is worse. The cost of living does feel less expensive in Africa. The caveat is that money doesn’t flow out here like it does in the States. But the way the African system is designed, if you are pulling in a little bit of dough and manage yourself well, you can accomplish great things, like purchasing land, even on a modest income. Another advantage Africa has, with so many farms being around, is fresh produce being in abundance and not too pricey.
Kojo: What has been the most rewarding aspect of living in Ghana?
Malcolm: The most rewarding aspect, all things considered, has probably been with my overall wellbeing. The African lifestyle is such that you’re bound to engage in more physical activity by default. The food is also healthier, and it’s easy to secure adequate amounts of vitamin D. My mental health has also benefited. It’s common sense to want to live somewhere where there isn’t a lot of street crime, gun violence and other hostile activities that are more common stateside. Growing up in the States, you get used to those sorts of things. It’s only after you get away for a while that you realize how counterproductive it all is.
Kojo: What challenges did you face adjusting, and how did you overcome them?
Malcolm: Catching malaria for the first time was really a bitch, but the body gradually develops an immunity. Some of these common challenges, like the threat of infections, are ever present. For example, I sometimes fall sick when I eat street food. I believe that even if I lived here for 100 years, the fact that I wasn’t born and raised in Africa makes me more vulnerable to certain infections than the natives are. Maintaining a steady, appreciable income in Ghana has also been a challenge. The African system is such that you can’t really survive on your own with a common job, which aren’t in abundance to begin with. So a lot of people venture into entrepreneurism. That’s what many foreigners do, come out here and start their own business.
Kojo: You are to a significant degree a remote worker. How did you find the digital nomad infrastructure – WIFI, coworking spaces, etc.?
Malcolm: The internet in Ghana can suck sometimes. Even if you’re using a premium service, it isn’t totally uncommon to deal with sporadic incidences of reduced speeds or loss of connectivity. A lot of it has to do with location. Slow speeds and lack of connectivity can also be caused by the electricity being off in one area or another. That said, the internet is still very much workable in Ghana, though you have to pay more for better services. The coworking spaces, where the likes of digital nomads congregate, tend to be pretty noisy, i.e. public venues. I prefer setting up my own living quarters in a way that I can just work from home. Overall, due to the lower cost of living, Ghana is a cool place to live as a digital nomad.
Kojo: What are the biggest misconceptions Westerners have about living in Africa?
Malcolm: Many Westerners, even to this day, think that Africans are impoverished, and people are out here starving. Africa does have its challenges when it comes to making a living, but so does the West. Africans may not have as much money, but they are eating. Also, there are modern, prosperous cities in the Motherland and everything else you find in other parts of the world. I think Westerners are also convinced that Africa is more violent than it actually is. News headlines tend to be dominated by the acts of warfare and terrorism. There are definitely some places that are more volatile than others. But generally speaking, it’s rare that you hear of a mass killing in Africa or anything like that. And the places that are dangerous have already been identified by locals or your embassy, so all you have to do is heed advisories.
Kojo: What do you wish people knew about Ghana or Africa as a whole?
Malcolm: I wish people knew how safe the continent is as a whole. Some nations may have their issues. But even countries like Nigeria and South Africa, where violent crime is normalized, attract a significant amount of outsiders. I also wish people could appreciate how much more affordable Africa is. Job markets may not be as robust, but if you have a respectable income or bring adequate funds from abroad, you can make powermoves in the Motherland. For example, buying land out here is common, while that practice is virtually unheard of in the States.
Kojo: What advice would you give someone considering making this move?
Malcolm: Come over with as much money as possible but don’t be too quick to spend it. Get to know the place first before making any big investments. Also, try to maintain a source of income in your home currency. African money is worthless compared to that from the West. If your money is only being generated in Africa, then you’ll have to make a lot of it in order to live comfortably. If however you have adequate income from abroad, it can achieve a lot more than it can in your home country.
