For Enoch Yeboah Kese, a prison officer who has served for several years, the dream of traveling abroad was supposed to be his escape from financial hardship. But today, he says that dream has turned into a painful lesson.
Enoch explains that life in the Ghana Prison Service has been far from easy. Despite the dedication and discipline required, his salary remains too low to sustain the rising cost of living.
“I love my job, but the pay is nothing to smile about,” he says. “The risks are high, the pressure is constant, yet the salary doesn’t match the work we put in. It’s frustrating.”
Hoping to secure a better future, Enoch decided to pursue an opportunity abroad. He saved for months—cutting down on basic comforts—until he finally raised GH₵5,000, money he paid to a travel agent who promised to secure him a visa and a job.
But according to Enoch, that promise never materialized.
“The agent kept assuring me everything was on track,” he recounts. “Later he stopped picking my calls, stopped responding to messages. That was when I realised something was wrong.”
Feeling deceived, Enoch says he had no choice but to confront the agent repeatedly, demanding a refund of his hard-earned money.
“I chased him everywhere,” he says. “I worked for that money. I sacrificed for it. Losing it just like that was painful.”
Though still disappointed, Enoch says the experience has not killed his dream of relocating abroad. Instead, it has made him more cautious, more determined, and more vocal about the struggles many public-sector workers face.
“I don’t want to leave because I hate Ghana,” he says. “I want to leave because I need a fair chance at life. I want to support my family, build a future, and finally feel rewarded for my hard work.”
His story echoes the frustrations of many young workers seeking better opportunities outside the country—only to face obstacles even before they leave.
If you want a shorter news-style version, a more emotional feature story, or a TV/radio script format, I can prepare one for you.
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