I am a Migrant: Rockson Kwasi Kyere

My name is Rockson Kwasi Kyere and I am from Dormaa in the Bono Region of Ghana. Before I traveled to Europe, I was a cocoa farmer. I owned an eight-acre piece of land but could only plant on four acres. As the years went by, my crop yield began to decrease, and I had no capital to invest in the business.

I am the sole breadwinner of my family and as my cocoa yield decreased, the family income also fell. My brother, who resides in the UK, suggested I go there to seek greener pastures.

My migration route however was not straightforward. In 2018, I took a plane to Schiphol airport in Amsterdam where I met someone who was to take me to Belgium to continue my journey to the UK. I would have loved to stay in Belgium but I did not speak French. A lot of my friends and family were in Holland and so I decided to change my plans of joining my brother in the UK, and travel back to the Netherlands instead.

In Amsterdam, I stayed there for two years and worked as a cleaner. Along the line, my visa expired. On my way home from work one day, I was caught on the way during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

I was taken to a camp where an IOM official came to talk to us. I took the opportunity to return home with the support of IOM. It was the best decision I made.

Thanks to the little support, I now own a little “chop bar” in my village. I sell local food, mainly banku and fufu, and both local and foreign alcoholic beverages.  

I loved Amsterdam and so I named my restaurant “Amsterdam Spot”. My wife and friend help me run the business, and it is gradually picking up. I am happy to be back home.

Thanks to IOM I was able to return home in a dignified way.

Rockson Kyere was supported to return under the Netherlands AVRR (Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration) programme.