She quit her job as a lawyer in New York and moved to Ghana

(CNN) – In 2012, Nana Amoako Anin was working as a prosecutor in New York. An American of Ghanaian descent, he had spent much of his adult life studying law and entering the legal profession.

But one day, despite the prospects for career advancement in one of the world’s most prosperous cities, he decided that the time had come for a drastic change.

It was then that he moved to Ghana.

It may seem like a surprising decision, but Anin is not alone. The appeal of the West African country has proven irresistible to others in recent years who have chosen to heed the call of the country’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo.

Two years ago, Addo designated 2019 as “the year of return”, a nice slogan to promote your country as a travel destination for your dispersed diaspora in Europe and the United States.

The year of return was timed to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of African slaves to the United States, recognizing the importance of Ghana as a transportation hub for many of those captured and transported across the Atlantic.

The campaign was a success, as the country received an increase in visitors, including celebrities such as Naomi Campbell and Idris Elba. That year there was an increase in income from tourism.

Beyond the 12-month campaign, some, as singer stevie wonder, have started making plans for a permanent move. Others returned to stay.

For Anin, the move was made in search of a better work-life balance.

“I have lived in the United States most of my life, I trained as a lawyer and had every expectation of knowing the courts and the business environment, in the United States, for much of my professional career,” she says.

Life had other ideas. The stress at work and the birth of her daughter made her rethink her life and, suddenly, she considered a new life in Ghana.

“The stress changed my plans, I think for the better,” he says.

“Before moving I had become a prosecutor in New York. The experience shook my world, bringing with it many personal imbalances.”

“I had it all”

The key to her decision was her discovery of yoga and her subsequent training as an instructor, which she said was a gateway to more radical life changes.

“So when my husband and I moved to Ghana, I never imagined that so many doors would open for my own healing and that of others.”

Anin says her decision to leave New York, and her “glorious and coveted corner apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn, behind her was a surprise to her acquaintances.

“I had it all before moving to Ghana. I had checked all the boxes for life goals and could have easily remained on American soil. What I questioned was the long hours at work and the manic stress that my lifestyle brought with it.” , he indicated.

“Leaving New York when you’ve ‘got it’ isn’t something most people do of their own free will, so our plans to move shocked our family and friends. I still remember hearing, ‘Do you leave a six-figure salary? to move your family abroad and start over in Africa? And from the family: ‘you were not born there, it will be hard’ “.

Anin says she and her husband planned for four years before taking the plunge.

“We look at our savings head-on,” he says. “We thought intensely about the shipment of our car and what life would be like when we moved in with our young daughter.”

“Expenses were a key issue on our mind. At the time of our move, Ghana had one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and [Accra] it was also ranked as one of the most expensive cities to live in. “

“Building our own house had always been the plan. Without that, we didn’t see the value of moving, to end up renting a house, where a rent … could cost us $ 4,000 a month.”

“Endless rewards”

The construction of their new family home took two years, a tense time in which she and her daughter remained in New York while her husband came forward to supervise the work.

“There were a lot of Skype calls and tears of frustration,” Anin says. “I was struck by the question of whether the construction and the move were worth it. At times, I regretted it before the move, but I stuck with it. And the rewards have been endless.”

Anin and her family are not the only ones.

Ghanaian-British businesswoman and philanthropist Dentaa Amoateng decided to move to Ghana from the UK in 2019, after coming and going for years. Now he has committed to creating a network in the country for returnees.

“The move to Ghana was not a surprise to anyone,” he says. “I have spent years dedicating myself to Ghana and to people in the diaspora. I was always going back and forth between the UK and Ghana, and little by little I found myself living most of the year in Ghana.”

“It felt good, my family and children loved it. I felt a sense of peace in Ghana knowing that my children could finally learn and speak their mother tongue, Twi. It was not planned, it just aligned.”

Despite the benefits, she says she has struggled to get used to the “drastic” changes in her lifestyle since moving to West Africa.

“The adaptation was not easy,” he says. “Being a developing country, everything, in terms of infrastructure, was also in development.”

But he adds: “Ghana has a lot to offer to me and to those in the diaspora. As one of the most stable countries in West Africa, Ghana’s economy has grown in gold, cocoa and oil.”

A “significant risk”

These returns go against the traditional narrative of African migration. An investigation by the CoronaNet Research Project, a database on government responses to the coronavirus, highlighted that up to 970,714 people, or 3.2% of the Ghanaian population, emigrated in 2019. The most popular destinations were Europe and America.

Migration out of Ghana has occurred both legally and illegally, as many have overstayed visas once they have entered another country or crossed borders clandestinely. Despite this, there is an influx of Ghanaians and diaspora blacks into Ghana.

What is offered to the returnees is a strong democracy and a healthy economy. There is also a dynamic culture, especially around food, and a coastline that invites both tourists and those who decide to settle.

Although the pandemic, which prompted Ghana to temporarily close its borders, has had a major impact on world travel, for some it has been the impetus to finally take the plunge.

Samuel Brooksworth, a former contestant on the UK version of the reality show “The Apprentice”, took advantage of the turbulence of 2020 to relocate from the UK to Ghana and create the remote skills company Remoteli.

“During the pandemic, we saw that graduate unemployment had risen and we saw an opportunity to start working abroad, here in Ghana,” says Brooksworth.

He says his company now hires licensed Ghanaian telecommuters for businesses and individuals around the world, providing customer service, virtual assistance, social media management, and website and app development.

“The change was more than a business opportunity,” says Brooksworth. “I felt compelled to have an impact on the continent, forcing me to take a huge risk to move to Ghana.”

“After several visits to Ghana I knew that one of the areas in which I wanted to work was around employment. Moving to pursue our dream was not easy. Sometimes there were doubts, especially because my wife had to be taken into account as well. my children in the process ”.

“Now we have made it work, and the risk has been worth it with the success of Remoteli. I am enjoying it and I love the environment. I want to be here as I expand across the continent.”

An incredible feeling

This changing narrative – with many in the diaspora and outside of it recognizing the benefits of living in Africa – is something I can relate to.

After visiting Ghana during the year of return, I always knew that I would return. I moved in 2020 and found the work-life balance that I have always wanted. The pandemic offered a great opportunity to be closer to family and my roots after the loss of my grandfather.

As borders around the world reopen, more people may be welcomed “at home.”

For former New York Anin, the move has not been without a certain longing for her former life.

“I don’t regret moving. I’ve seen and lived some of my happiest moments here,” he says. “But what I miss is the pulse of New York. I miss the 24-hour corner stores and the concerts in Central Park. I have traveled again since I moved, and I plan to continue that pilgrimage regularly.”

But, he says, the pros far outweigh the cons, especially when looking to the future.

“Having embraced the life of an entrepreneur, there have been many freedoms that I would not change. For example, making my own hours, being able to work for myself and set my own hours. And have more time with my family.”

“These things seem simple, but they are huge advantages of starting a new life in Ghana. Strangely, I never experience the sadness of Sunday nights. It is an incredible feeling.”