Moved to Ghana from UK and now owns a coffee shop

Okay, my name is Amanda and uh I moved to Ghana nearly four years ago. Our generation was probably the only generation that grew up and the parents didn't speak true to them. It just felt like, oh, this is home. This is what it feels like. And then when you look around, everyone looks like you. People are doing well and they look like you decided to move here um in 2010. >> Okay. >> But it didn't work out. Like I said, I know people that came with no money, so it just depends on your lifestyle. >> Living in the UK as an African immigrant has become increasingly challenging, especially with the recent political rhetoric surrounding illegal immigration across the channel. Despite having served nearly 19 years in the British armed forces, I'm often reminded that at first glance, I don't look any different from the average African migrant. This is a sobering realization, especially when some of the loudest voices pushing this agenda come from people who share our background. In this video, I sit down with Amanda, a Britishborn Ghanaian who has achieved something many dream of relocating from UK to Ghana and thriving. She shares her inspiring journey of building a successful coffee shop business in Kumasi, Ghana. I hope her story offers both insight and inspiration to anyone considering a similar path. Finally. Um, would you do this again or this journey to Ghana? >> My name is Mickey. Keep watching. >> Looking for a cozy sport that blends Ghanaian warmth with British charm? Chair coffee shop lounge and British cafe is the perfect escape. Whether you are craving rich, friendly brewed coffee, refreshment, delicious pastries, or a relaxing space to unwind or catch up with friends, Chenfre offers the perfect vibe. It's more than just a cafe. It's an experience that brings a taste of Britain to Ghana, served with authentic local hospitality. Come sip, chill, and enjoy the best of both worlds. Okay, my name is Amanda and uh I moved to Ghana nearly four years ago um this a April coming April 2025. I'm a wife and a mother of three. My children are here um with me in Kamasi. My husband comes backwards and forwards. Um my parents are also here in Kamasi and I own this coffee shop. In a previous life, I was a marketing consultant for over 22 years and yeah, fascinating really. >> That's good. Um, so were you born in Ghana or were you no >> born in the UK? >> I was born in London. East London to be precise. Um, and then moved to South London. So although I was born in East London, I consider myself a South Londoner. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So how was life like? Did let me say you were born in in London, right? But >> did Ghana was Ghana in the horizon for you? Did you know about Ghana or at what point did you know about Ghana? >> I always knew about Ghana cuz my parents are Ghanaian. We live in a Ghanaian household. Um so we came as as babies when we were born. um they would come to Ghana um sporadically especially when people died. Um, so I'm I was brought up on fufu kink. We were brought we were brought up Ghanaians. So where we we were all the Ghanaians know each other. Um, although our generation was probably the only generation that grew up and the parents didn't speak tree to them. >> So a lot of my generation don't speak tree. >> Um, they're small small. >> Um, yeah. So I I started coming to Ghana on my own in the 20 in my 20s. >> Okay. >> And um I actually decided to move here um in 2010. >> Okay. >> But it didn't work out. >> I wasn't prepared really. And then um I came back in 2021. >> When you say you weren't prepared um are you happy to go into where? >> Um >> yeah. >> Yeah. I wasn't prepared. You >> fell short. Um yeah, I wasn't prepared at all to understand how Ghana works. We've come from a society where things are quick quick uh readily available. So I came wanting to um start doing marketing seminars to tomeme um small businesses in Ghana. And I actually started trying to target some of the banks cuz I recognized that there were some um pitfalls in how they do business and how they share the information. That was just from my perspective coming from the UK. But obviously in the Ghanaian environment, it works, but there's always room for improvement. So I was trying to introduce some new strategies and tools and things like that. So I I held a few seminars with my friend. Um she came and did customer services element to it. This is in 2010. So, everyone talks about bad customer services in Ghana. It's been going on for a long time. So, she did the customer service element and I did the marketing ele and it went really well. It was a free seminar. We got um quite a good load of um recognizable brands attend and was and I was hoping to get some business some clients from that but the people were interested but the process is long. And then I got off I got promised to get a job through um one of my relatives. He put me in contact with some people but it just didn't come to fruition. So obviously you're in Ghana money's going fast. Um I kept getting I was a contractor in the UK. So I I kept getting contacted to come and work and in the UK I get paid by the day and so I can earn a lot in a week. So as I kept turning them down, turning them down and then in the end I said, you know, >> I'm going to have to go cuz nothing's coming and my money's running out and I need some pound. So that's where I say I wasn't really prepared. And then I had met my husband as well. So I went to see where that went. I met him in Ghana. He was on holiday and he had gone back to London. So um I just thought of let me just see where it goes. But um yeah, so the rest of the day is history. Yeah. >> And then hit and then um Oh, actually no, we we came back in 2012 to get married. >> Yeah. >> We got married here. We did traditional here, did the church, everything here. Um cuz both our families predominantly were here >> and then uh then the rest they say is history. We came back in 2021. >> 2020. >> Yeah. >> We will go back. So growing up in London, um how was it like >> how was your experience? >> Um it was just it was fun. I mean it's my childhood. We had a lot of laughs. Had a good mixture of friends. Um the London culture for us is predominantly um Caribbean, West Indian influenced. So um that was our influence. So you'll come in here of a day in the coffee shop and you'll hear a lot of bashmen. >> That's what I grew up on or hip hop. It was only I say in the mid 2000s where hip life became popular. Um we'd go to our family parties and hear the songs. So we know all the old high life songs and stuff like that but it wasn't heavily influenced. You know we go to the family parties and we know the songs, we know the food and stuff but um growing up um culturally UK life in London was predominantly Caribbean. Mhm. So, would I meet you at um Notting Hill if I was there? >> Um I used to go as a teenager >> as a teenager. >> Yeah. As I got older. No. >> Uh yeah. You would you definitely would see me. You'd see a big group of us. >> Yeah. And it's a mixture. You wouldn't know who's who. Ghians, West Indians, we're all the same. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um Yeah. >> So, a lot of people that you speak to, they always come to the R word. When you were growing up, did you experience anything like racism? >> Yeah, >> of course. >> How did >> especially in my career? In my career where you're always feeling threatened and you're obviously better than your boss. I had I used to work for a company and my um I was a PR manager and my marketing and communications director was who I had to um I had to answer to the marketing communications director and she was absolutely rubbish at her job and she was so bad. She started when I started the chair the the CEO of the company was racist anyway and I think he was a friend. So the she was really bad at her job. So I was picking up the slack for where she should be doing her job. In the end there was some shortfalls that she didn't do. >> Yeah. >> And they blamed me. Even though I'm not a communic I'm not the marketing and communications director but it didn't matter. I had some other directors on my side having to talk for me but I still lost my job >> because I didn't you know do what she was supposed to do. So they it it's it was a very normal thing. I again I worked in another large well-known organization in the UK and I had an MP and um director come and attack me for being in the job. Like I've just walked into the company, nobody said they'll come and do this work and attack me for for doing the work and would not apologize cuz I I said I'm not having it. They were just doing the apologies on my on on his behalf. he would not come and apologize. So, yeah, it happens all the time. It's I mean, as a black woman, Yeah. but I I I definitely know as black men cuz I've got brothers, it's a real real daily. >> Do you think Do you think like as part of your skill of working, you also have to learn the skill of dealing with it? Is it like you have a way of like a improving your defense mechanisms for racism? I don't know because I was younger then and so it was just a part of life. I wouldn't tolerate any of it now and I wouldn't be quiet now. Um but back then I just think it was just it was just how we lived. So as I speak to some of my friends I we all agree that every most black people or if not everyone is walking around with PSTD. every day you walk out, you wake up and you are um you're ready for battle cuz you're going to be attacked passively or uh you know confrontationally. So >> I don't I couldn't say I think it's only now where people are starting to recognize certain things. you know, you got the unconscious biases, you got a lot of the um ED EDI um >> coming in now >> trying to um but these are all ticking sheets. They're not actually trying to do anything. >> So, >> yeah, I mean people still people still have stories now. I have I have friends that are you know heads of departments and they still >> you know >> it's one thing we've realized is like when especially if you are white and when people are saying it you always think that oh maybe it's you you are looking at things differently until you relate to a minority then you realize that oh it's there and why I'm saying that is Prince Harry never spoke about unconscious bias until got hitched with Megan and then he realized it. Um, okay. So, fast forward, what did you do different? How come it's been able, you've been able to stick at it for 4 years? >> Um, I think you have to understand what is needed. I remember preparing I was, it was co anyway, so the kids were at home. I was homeschooling them and I was watching a lot of videos um about um living in Ghana and obviously I've been coming backwards and forwards anyway. And so I realized one is a mindset. You need to know that if you're going you're going to go and you're going to stay. You're not going to have um a a blanket to to to to fall on if it doesn't work out. Oh, I'm going to go back. >> My mind was like if I go I'm staying. If I have to sell uh Pure Water to stay to have a bit of money, I will do it. I'm not going back. Obviously, I go back and forth, you know what I mean? But I'm not going back to I could not even see myself there anymore, >> you know? And then I have my friends telling me, >> "Don't come back. You make the best choice." Yeah, it's very hard, >> you know. But um >> I just think it was a mindset because you can come with money and you can come without money and you can still succeed, you know. I know people that say they came with hardly anything. >> I mean, it's harder for me to say that because when I came, I was working. So, um, >> was it local or? >> No, I was working in London. So, but cuz it was, um, it was remote because of the co, we just carried on working remotely. And so, the the little money that I was earning, it wasn't such a great amount. It was still a great amount, I suppose, in UK, but when it's here, it is a large amount. So that gave me a bit of a soft landing and then they wanted me to come into the office at least once a month and I said I can't do that I'm not prepared to get on a flight and do that and plus I was bored of the job anyway and so I I I left that job and then um thought I need to do something. So this came to mind because there in Kamasi there wasn't really much um places to go like a coffee shop in the day. Um they had a few around but none that I you know I just thought it was a little bit of a gap. Now all of a sudden there's loads of coffee shops. I don't know if you've noticed since I've um done this. There's loads but everyone does their thing different so I don't really mind. But yeah, I just did this so it gives me something to do. Um I've got my hands in many other things as well but this is somewhere where I'd like people to come sit down have discussions. We have small events like open mics. We'll have debates. We'll do book clubs and all that sort of stuff. And a place where this is a British cafe. >> Yeah. >> So, this is a place where if you're a bit fed up of all the spice or you can't take the spice, you can come here and get something bland, but not not bland, but you know, something that's spicy. Yeah. Something that you haven't had um you know, for a while. And uh >> um Yeah. and this if you're a tourist you can come here and I give a lot of people a lot of um information about where to go. I've I've got a WhatsApp group um called the we love Kamasi group. >> So we have a lot of people that just share information >> and if I get people coming in ask um information about Kamasi and what to do kind of enlighten them cuz people tend to come here for a day. >> Yeah. and go to the palace and go to the market. But when they come, I actually advise them that we have a lot of sites here. So that's another project I'm working towards trying to get people to know what is around. But >> yeah, I'm just here. >> So we'll come back to the coffee shop. But I can see that there was a big pool for you to come to Ghana. Why was that? And then why Kumari? >> Um I I don't know. I just felt like this was my home. When I first ever came, it was um it just felt like, oh, this is home. This is what it feels like. And then when you look around, everyone looks like you. People are doing well and they look like you. You know, there's a sense of community. Um, everyone is generally always happy. >> If you see an argument in the street, one minute they're arguing and shouting. We like shouting, especially here in Kamasi, shouting. Next thing you know, everybody's laughing, you know. So I I I just I don't know. It just felt like home and it's home to me. And my family are from here. I'm an Asanti. Okay. Both my parents. >> Yeah. Yeah. I can see you. You like your culture. >> Well, that's my family. >> Oh, your family? >> Yeah. >> Tell me more about it. >> No. >> No. >> Okay. So, setting this up, how difficult? How? >> Very difficult. >> Very. It actually was harder than the first place where we were at which was a garden. and it was absolutely nothing there and I built it up. This place is already here. But it nearly made me it actually gave me um a bit of food for thought. I was so close to just throwing a towel in. I said, "You know what? This is unnecessary." I've been on other videos and spoke the same thing, but this time it actually made me realize I have to put some things in place that I need to step away sometimes and come back. So is it the setting up or is it the whole like system? >> It's the system. It's the people. >> Okay. >> Yeah. See, we're used to making arrangements with people who are coming to work for you who are skilled in those areas. Electricians, carpenters, tylers, um whoever they may be, any artisans, and they come because it's a job >> and if they can't come, they'll communicate that. >> Yeah. No. >> No. So, so what about like the business registration and that? >> Oh, I already did that from cuz I was I've just moved location. So, all of that very straightforward. >> It's very straightforward. And you can always ask people to help you. Um, yeah, I did that a year ago. So, I just had it renewed. Um, which was done for me. Um, yeah, it's quite straight. >> Let's say I want to set up a business, say a guest house. What are some of the tips you would give me? Um, do it how you want to to be, like your decor. Um, make sure you have people that you can trust to help you implement what you need doing. Um, make sure the people that are working for you, that are doing any of the work, understand fully what you want and make sure you're there because they will break your things. >> Yeah. >> And not tell you. um all the registration stuff you can contact uh I mean if you're from Ghana you'll always have somebody that you can ask uh who could give you advice but the information is online as well can't remember what it's called but they do have all of these things online um you have to um for for me you have to go to Ghana tourism >> um so that they can register you so Ghana Tourism will register you on their system um which will make it easier for other people to find you if you go through Ghana Tourism. And then you have to go and get um they give you a letter for the fire uh department. They give you a letter for the police and um what's the third one? I can't remember. I think it's like health and safety where you have to go to these individual departments and they come and check out where you are, see if you're following all the regulations and then you get the stamp of approval. Yeah. and you have to put up your certificates. I haven't done mine yet. I'll have to find somewhere to put them up. But yeah, so we do have there is a system here. It doesn't work all the time, but there is a system and you have to follow it. Um if you're not sure, there's always people out there that can help you. Yeah. >> What about recruitment? What do you look at? >> Recruitment. I just put an ad up. I had an ad and I have a lot of different individuals that have access to people. some um KUS professors, some other businessmen and women that were happy to post um that have groups and stuff and just they just spread the word. >> So people are very helpful. People are very helpful. So especially jobs, everyone wants a job. So >> um if somebody's watching and they want to come to Ghana, what would you what would be your a tip nugget that you give them >> to come to move to Ghana? >> If they are moving to Ghana? >> Um I would recommend they um research where they going to live, if they have children, if they're going to send them to school um or if they're homeschooling. Find out what activities are there for them to do. what's what the if you're going to send the school, what is your budget, what you can afford, and what type of school you want them to go to. I did all that before I came. I was researching the schools, even though I ended up homeschooling um after a time, but um what else? I had my um house before I came. I had >> very important is it? >> Yeah. I had um one of my relatives look um look for a house for me. In the end, I found one through one of my cousins um friend who does real estate and um it was a really lovely house and I needed it to be near to my family. It was a really really lovely house and so I was really happy for it. But when we got there it the road was really bad and so I would suggest anybody so this was something I learned. I would suggest that you make sure if it's a rough road, how much rough road there is and how bad it is, what the reception is for your your well connection network-wise cuz the network was really bad. I know it's hard to find, but the network was very bad. People would ring and say that um they're ringing my phone and it's saying that you've dialed the wrong number. Um the internet, the light off in that particular area was quite bad as well. So, you need to make sure you have a generator. the house. If I could lift the house up and take it wherever I want to go, I would. It was really nice. But the road was bad. And to get out of that area, it would take, put it this way, you once you leave the house, you don't come back until the evening. So, and I didn't think about that. And I was asking a relative and I was asking how far away is it from such and such relative's place? Oh, it's not far. And so, obviously, you're taking it as, "Oh, it's not far." But actually, it was quite far. >> Yeah. um especially because of the rough road. So remember, everyone's everyone else's subject is what they're not far is is far to you. So you just have to know exactly where you're going. And because I didn't come beforehand, um it was a bit of a distance, but that was only because of the the um rough road. But we we were there for a while and then I um I moved into town more. Um, I would suggest you get a place if you're staying with relatives. That's a real soft landing, but you're not going to really feel what it's like to live here. When you get a place, if you're renting or you're buying, make sure you got ball hole. >> Ball hole. >> Make sure you have a generator or solar panels >> cuz you cannot trust the grid. >> Yeah. I mean, it's not that bad actually. It's not been that bad. Um, but still if you're not used to it, it can affect your appliances if you don't have the fridge guards and things like that. Um, so those are the two main things I would say. And um, if you don't like pets, start getting to like pets >> because it's very good to have dogs, >> okay? >> As added security. Um, I have two dogs. I would never have had pets in the UK, >> but I've got two um, Dobermans. I love them, but I would never have had a pet in the UK at all. So, they're good security. Yeah, those are the only things really. >> What about money? Moneywise, >> like I said, I know people that came with no money. >> So, it just depends on your lifestyle. People may have a certain way of living that may cost a lot. Some people may um not spend a lot. Um so, it just depends on your the type of lifestyle. We we live in Kamasi so it's a very different type of lifestyle than it is to live in Ara. >> Um Ara is very expensive. We use Ara as a holiday. >> When we go to Ara we literally feel like we're coming we're coming on holiday cuz you know there's so much more there. But um it just depends on your lifestyle and what you spend. Um when we first came, we were going to the um different hotels every week and the kids will be swimming every week and we'll be eating at the hotels >> um every weekend. So it just depends. >> Yeah. >> So each to each their own. >> Does it? Yeah. >> Um >> tell me about this beautiful place. >> It's this is temp >> and um it's uh actually a dinkra symbol. >> Mhm. So a lot of um the local Gians come in and because they meet me they assume it's a word from outside so they can't pronounce it until I explain to them then they're like oh okay because it's also not it's not a common adinka symbol either. >> Mhm. >> But it's um a dinka symbol. It's about you know um there's always someone out there that knows more than you. So there's someone um to learn from or like our ancestors that we have to you know always show some respect and it's it's a quite a big one but um that's that's what I get from it >> actually. Yeah. It was the when I heard the name I was like I know it sound Ghanaian but I wasn't sure. I've never seen it. So >> yeah. Yeah. It's the jingle symbol. And so what people tend to do here with businesses they give name like westernized names. And so I said I don't want to do that. I want to do the opposite. So when we have visitors coming, they can take something away and learn something. So I'm a westernized I'm a westerner as they say per se and I've got a a name for the business. >> So where can they find the beautiful? >> Well, we are we are now in deny um the Miklin road. So if anyone is familiar with Kamasi, the same street where Miklin is, Miklin Hotel, we are a bit ahead like as if you're going to Santasi roundabout. Um we are by the old um old ladies um sports bar is where we are on the street. >> Yeah. >> And Google map will bring you straight. Oh yeah, it brought you so easy. Yeah. Yeah. >> Um is there any services that you give that people >> um for benefit from like anything that >> Okay. Well, I do I'm trying to do um my marketing services again and particularly for Ghana here because there's a bit of a gap here. Everyone's very much on social media. Um and that's only one element. Um I offer I offer tours for Kamasi Kamasi tours um which usually end with um attending a celebration. So it depends if you come at a certain time you'll be able to go to a walker day or a Quy day. A Quy day is something I think I urge all people to try and attend. It's um it's really a fanf fair and and a spectacular event for people to see. Um so yeah, generally um general information about Kamasi in general um and marketing whether it be um building websites, strategy and all that sort of stuff. Yeah. And here we do we do takeaways. We offer takeaway service, delivery service, um >> pre-orders. >> Yeah, for here >> pre-orders, you know, um our pastries are quite quite popular right now. >> I've had a few people request it from Acra >> and we've only been open 3 days and um we're like we can't do that. We don't have a branch in Ara, unfortunately. But yeah, our donuts. >> Yeah. No, finally. Um, would you do this again or this journey to Ghana? >> Uh, yeah, I would. >> I mean, it's frustrating at times, don't get me wrong. It's very frustrating, especially when you are from a place where everything is bam, bam, bam, bam. But it's like that for a reason. That's why you don't really get no breathing space. Everyone's always tired. If you got to see your friends, you got to book in advance. So, I would definitely always come back here. Always, always come back here. But again, it's always nice to go and visit, see your family and see your friends and stuff, but always know that you can come back here, you know. >> Thank you very much for doing this. >> You're welcome.