This is absurd and it must stop.
I travel to Ghana at least 4 or 5 times each year for business and on each trip, I have a luggage allowance of two bags (32 KG each). But I mostly have no luggage except my hand luggage—especially when I am leaving Ghana.
I don’t take anything from anyone to take to the UK or from the UK to Ghana. If you wouldn’t talk to me again because I wouldn’t become your personal courier in life, then I will even be excited.
I have always argued that you cannot go and live in the UK and decide to live as if you are in Ghana. Even if you want to eat Ghana foods each time, there are plenty of African shops and restaurants selling these foods out there.
But the foolish Ghanaian will think he or she is smarter and will claim that the Ghanaian foods out there are way expensive (when the price in pounds is converted to cedis). You work and get paid in pounds and yet you don’t want to buy things as stated in pounds, rather as in cedis.
From tubers of yam to snails, if you are not careful and unable to say ‘NO’ to such people, they will try to load a whole bag for you to take to the UK for them.
I always say: why don’t you go to Ghana yourself to carry these things if they are important to you? And, did you pay for my ticket for me?
I am fuming this morning because one of my clients who was visiting the UK for the first time was detained from 5pm to 9pm yesterday at the airport—simply because the Border Force officials were not sure that he was a genuine visitor (visiting for a brief period)—made this was worse by the fact that he had 3 large suitcases for a short trip.
It emerged later that, one of his family members who left Ghana a few days ago to the UK still managed to load 2 suitcases of Palm Oil, Eguse, Dry Fish and all manner of nonsense for him to take. He only had 1 bag himself—the other two are for this family member.
Why?
I don’t go giving anyone anything to take to Ghana or the UK for me and therefore, I don’t take anything for anyone. I find it disrespectful when people do that. If you insist on bothering me, I will take your things and leave them at the airport or home—and tell you I forgot. You can’t do anything, and you will learn a lesson.
This is so bad in the life of some people that even when they travel, they cannot tell others—for fear that these people will burden them with loads.
I will always announce, and I am even going to do it now. I am leaving Ghana in the next few days to the UK—if you are a man or woman, call me and ask me to bring you some stuff from Ghana and let’s see. Nonsense.
Why do you people make people’s life a living hell like that? Must you eat Ghana food in the UK if you cannot afford it there or travel to carry them there yourself?
Aunties, uncles, friends, and colleagues who do this to others must stop.
If you desire to eat authentic Ghanaian foods only, move back to Ghana—if that is so much important to you.
–Chris-Vincent Agyapong
