Relocating and Working Together - From Ghana to Ireland

Michael recently relocated from Ghana to Ireland through the Specsavers international programme, making the move alongside his best friend Marvin. The pair moved together and now even work in the same Specsavers store.

Born and raised in Ghana

I was born and raised in Ghana, and I’ve been in Ireland for just over three months now. After high school, I was thinking carefully about what career path to take, and optometry stood out straight away. It’s a profession where you can help someone immediately, but also protect their vision long-term

Back home, there aren’t always enough eye care professionals, and many people only seek help when there’s already a problem. Being able to treat patients, educate them, and help prevent future issues really mattered to me and that’s what made me fall in love with optometry.

Building my experience back home

I qualified in 2021 and completed a year of national service, which is compulsory in Ghana and focuses on supporting smaller communities. After that, I moved into private practice and worked for around three years at Royal Eye Care Centre in Obuasi, an old mining community.

That experience taught me so much. You see a lot of eye injuries in mining areas, so there was a strong focus on treatment, safety, and educating people on preventive care.

Wanting more and finding Specsavers

After a few years, I started thinking about what was next. The practice I worked in had grown, things were steady, and I felt ready for a new challenge. I began researching opportunities abroad, and Specsavers kept coming up.

What stood out was the structure, the professionalism, and the high standards of care. Everything felt well organised, with lots of opportunities to grow. Ireland also appealed to me for its culture and how welcoming it is, so Specsavers in Ireland felt like the right place to take the next step.

Moving together with Marvin

Marvin and I met during our optometry training, the course in Ghana takes six years, and we worked together in hospital placements in our final year. Over time, we became close friends, often talking about what the next phase of life might look like.

When I found out Marvin was also applying through Specsavers, we naturally started supporting each other. Sharing advice and going through the process together. After we both interviewed for the same store in Carlow, we found out the team wanted to offer us both roles and asked if we’d like to move as a pair, it was an easy decision.

It was my first time leaving Ghana, and also Marvin’s. Having someone you trust beside you, especially when everything is new makes such a huge difference. From the flight over to adjusting to a new culture, everything felt less overwhelming because we were in it together.

Settling into life in Ireland

The relocation process took patience, especially the visa stage, but we were supported every step of the way. When we arrived, fellow Ghanaian optometrists, Celso and Michael-Quayson, welcomed us and helped us settle into our apartment, which is now our permanent home and just a short walk from work .

The first week was a real adjustment. The cold, the accents, the systems but our colleagues were incredibly patient. Even though we were already qualified optometrists, learning new processes took time, and the support we received made that much easier.

Outside of work, life has been great. People here are genuinely kind and welcoming, and Ireland is a beautiful country with so much to explore.

Looking ahead

This move has taught me patience, attention to detail, and the importance of dreaming big. Moving with a friend gave us confidence, stability, and a sense of belonging from day one and I truly believe that helped us settle faster and bring our best selves to work. I’m really grateful to my family, Marvin, Chris Sullivan, and to everyone at Specsavers Carlow, especially my directors; Dolores, Bernie, Mary, Grace and Brian, who supported us along the way.