Migration dream turns sour as Ghanaian teacher battles debt and visa crisis in Thailand

A Ghanaian teacher who resigned from the Ghana Education Service hoping to secure a better-paying job overseas is now stranded in Thailand, burdened by debt, without access to his passport and appealing for urgent support to return home before his visa expires.

Ebenezer, who previously taught in the Wenchi Municipality, said he left Ghana with the hope of improving the lives of his wife and two young children. Instead, he says his decision has turned into a painful financial and immigration crisis that has left him trapped in a foreign country.

According to him, he arrived in Thailand after the main teacher recruitment season had ended, making it difficult to secure employment. After submitting numerous applications online and visiting several schools, he eventually received just one teaching offer at a newly established school, earning about $470 a month.

He said the salary fell far short of what he had expected and was insufficient to cover his living expenses in Thailand while supporting his family back in Ghana.

His difficulties worsened when he discovered that the school did not have the required documentation to obtain a work permit for foreign teachers. To remain in the country legally, he said he was forced to convert his tourist visa into a student visa at a cost of more than $2,200.

Having exhausted his savings, Ebenezer said he borrowed the money from his employer. The repayments are now deducted from his monthly salary, leaving him with barely enough to pay for rent, transport, food, utilities and support his family in Ghana.

His immigration problems escalated further when the visa agent handling his documents withheld his passport over an unpaid balance of about $1,800 in processing fees.

Without his passport, he says he cannot renew his immigration status or leave Thailand.

With his visa due to expire on 11 September 2026, he fears he could become an undocumented migrant if he is unable to settle the outstanding amount and recover his passport before the deadline.

The situation has been compounded by personal tragedy. Ebenezer said his mother died in September 2025. She had been a key source of support for his wife and children, helping them with food and other basic needs while he worked abroad.

He also revealed that he is still repaying a bank loan he took in Ghana, which was guaranteed by three fellow teachers. According to him, whenever he failed to make repayments, the guarantors’ salaries were affected, forcing him to borrow from friends and relatives to keep the loan up to date.

Reflecting on his experience, Ebenezer said he never imagined that his search for a better future would leave him facing such hardship.

“I came abroad with the hope of improving my family’s life, but today I find myself overwhelmed by debts, immigration expenses and uncertainty. I have worked hard, yet I cannot escape this situation. My greatest wish now is to recover my passport and eventually return home to my family.”

His story mirrors the experiences of many skilled Africans who migrate in search of better economic opportunities.

Across the continent, teachers, nurses, engineers and other professionals continue to leave their home countries because of low wages, unemployment and the desire to provide better lives for their families. While many secure stable employment abroad, others face unexpected challenges including deceptive recruitment, exploitative working conditions, mounting debts and costly immigration requirements.

Migration experts have repeatedly warned prospective migrants against relocating without verified job offers, proper documentation and adequate financial preparation, cautioning that doing so can expose them to financial exploitation, legal complications and prolonged immigration difficulties.

Now desperate to return home, Ebenezer is appealing to Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Ghanaian Embassy in Thailand, philanthropists, corporate organisations and the general public to help him raise the remaining $1,800 needed to recover his passport before his visa expires.

He believes recovering the document will allow him to regularise his immigration status and eventually return to Ghana to reunite with his family.

Ebenezer also expressed gratitude to Ghana’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, saying he previously received some financial assistance from him, but it was not enough to resolve his situation.

He says any financial support, prayers or assistance would offer him a chance to rebuild his life after what he describes as a painful lesson about the risks of seeking opportunities abroad without sufficient safeguards.

Story by Ibrahim Abode || UE/R || Metro Digital