I’ll choose Ghana over $100,000 monthly salary in US – Abeiku Santana

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Abeiku Santana, has declared that he would choose to remain in Ghana rather than relocate to the United States or United Kingdom, even if offered a monthly salary of $100,000.

He said Ghana offers enormous opportunities for those willing to identify and pursue them, arguing that many Ghanaians often focus on the country’s challenges instead of turning them into opportunities for entrepreneurship and wealth creation.

Abeiku Santana made the comments in a video shared on X, where he urged Ghanaians to change their perception of opportunities and adopt a more solution-oriented approach to the challenges confronting the country.

“If you gave me a $100,000 monthly salary to live in America or to live in the UK, I'll choose Ghana,” he said.

According to him, the local economy presents significant opportunities capable of providing meaningful livelihoods for people who are prepared to take action.

He observed that while many Ghanaians complain about difficulties and gaps in the country, foreigners and expatriates often identify those same challenges as potential areas for investment and business.

“Then foreigners or expatriates come; they see it, and they seize it. We see the opportunity, but we lament. We always complain,” he stated.

The GTA Deputy CEO argued that the major difference lies not necessarily in the availability of opportunities but in the willingness of individuals to act on them.

He described challenges and problems as potential sources of innovation, entrepreneurship and employment, urging Ghanaians to view difficulties from a different perspective.

“Anything that people are complaining about is an opportunity. Opportunity is work. Opportunity is problems. But we don't like problems,” he added.

His comments come amid continued discussions about the growing interest among young Africans in seeking better economic opportunities abroad.

While acknowledging the appeal of countries such as the US and UK, Abeiku Santana encouraged Ghanaians to pay greater attention to opportunities within the local economy.

He urged citizens to develop a mindset focused on finding solutions and explore ways to transform Ghana’s challenges into productive ventures rather than concentrating solely on the difficulties.