Life-Changing Choices: Leaving for a New Chapter

Kwei--Wed 

                    View from Mount Naranco of foliage-rich Oviedo 
                                    (Recreated with AI)

There are moments in life when we face profound choices that change everything. These decisions aren't always easy, but they often lead us down paths that redefine who we are and where we're headed. I've had my share of these pivotal moments, but none more consequential than the one I’ve come to face now.

The Joke Becomes Reality: Leaving the USIt was once a running joke among many of us: "If Trump wins, I’m leaving the US." It was said in jest--a way to vocalize frustration without the intention of actually acting on it. But that sentiment has evolved. This time, the stakes are too high, and for many, including myself, it is no longer just a statement of dissatisfaction. 

In July, I will leave the US to resettle in Oviedo, Spain's beautiful, luxuriantly green city. The decision isn't born from a mere sense of frustration but from a deep, persistent sense of panic and concern. Every day, the Trump administration creates a daily environment of uncertainty, despair, and fury. Under Biden’s leadership, there were still struggles, but my mornings usually began with mundane thoughts about what errands I had to run and what my day would look like. Since the rise of Trumpism, however, I wake up with a gnawing sense of dread, my first thought often being, What new horror has Trump on Truth Social unleashed overnight?

A Physician’s Perspective: The Painful Legacy of Trump

As a physician, some of the most painful aspects of the Trump administration have been the consistent attacks on public health and university institutions and resources that directly affect the lives of millions, including my own work. The cruelty and lack of empathy demonstrated over a couple of months of the Trump regime are staggering. The following are just a few of the catastrophic actions that have left me deeply disturbed:

• USAID: Under the Trump administration, USAID’s mission of providing global aid was undermined, with critical funding cut back to nations in need, particularly those battling public health crises such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. When I lived in Ghana, I often met Americans in service under USAID’s auspices.
• NIH (National Institutes of Health): Funding to the NIH has been slashed, impeding scientific research on a range of crucial health issues. The administration’s rejection of science and research priorities has left many in the medical community feeling unsupported and unheard.
• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): Once the gold standard for global health, the CDC is being sidelined during Trump's term. His administration’s neglect and active interference in health policies will lead to unnecessary delays in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies. Added to this is the ridiculousness of a brainworm-infested anti-vaxxer, RFK, Jr., getting the post of Secretary of HHS.
• Immigration and Family Separation: The cruelty of separating families at the border and the treatment of asylum seekers are some of the most heart-wrenching actions that signal a profound disregard for human dignity.
• Environmental Rollbacks: Trump’s environmental policies, aimed at rolling back protections, worsened the health risks of pollution and climate change, affecting vulnerable populations, particularly those in impoverished areas.
• Civil Rights and Voting Restrictions: The administration’s support for voter suppression and efforts to stifle civil rights were not only harmful to democracy but also to public health, as disenfranchised communities often bear the brunt of systemic inequalities. It hasn’t yet been ruled out that Trump might try to invoke the Insurrection Act at the US southern border or in places where mass demonstrations are likely to occur.

The Danger of Returning to the US

Given the current political climate, visiting the US has become fraught with more danger than ever, even for citizens. The rise of vigilante justice, racial and LGBTQ+ persecution, and a political climate that seems to stoke division every day make it feel as though the country is on a path that may not be safe for people like me for many years to come. Here are just a few examples of injustices:

·  Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia: Mistakenly deported to El Salvador in 2025 despite protected legal status. (AP News)

·  Andry José Hernández Romero: Deported from the U.S. to El Salvador in 2025 after being misidentified as a gang member. (The Guardian)

·  LGBTQ+ Asylum Seeker: Wrongfully deported from the U.S. to El Salvador, facing dangers in its prison system. (Washington Blade)

·  Karla Avelar: A transgender activist facing persecution in El Salvador for her LGBTQ+ advocacy. (Wikipedia)

The trauma caused by Trumpism doesn't simply fade away with the end of his presidency. The ripple effects are felt in our social fabric, institutions, and daily lives. And now, as I decide to leave, I’m not only fleeing a country but reclaiming my peace of mind and safety.

A New Beginning in Spain

Oviedo, Spain, offers me the opportunity for a new start, away from the storm of chaos and cruelty that has defined the first months of the Trump regime. I look forward to a life where I can wake up with hope, not fear, and my thoughts will not be consumed by the next Trump tweet or policy change that undermines my country’s values. I will still advocate for the things I believe in—healthcare equity, global peace, and human dignity—but I will do so from a place where I can breathe again.

This life-changing decision is necessary for my survival, peace, and well-being. It’s a reminder that sometimes, to move forward, we need to make resolutions that feel radical at first but are, in fact, the bravest acts of self-preservation.

Life is full of choices—sometimes, we choose what we think is best at the moment, and other times, life chooses for us. This decision has chosen me, and I am finally taking the leap.

A Writing Career at a Crossroads

As I prepare to embark on this new chapter in Spain, I reflect on my writing career, which I feel has reached a peak and possibly a plateau. My enthusiasm for setting murder mysteries in Ghana, once a wellspring of creativity and intrigue, has significantly dwindled since the release of The Whitewashed Tombs. Ghana's backdrop—its complex social fabric, vibrant culture, and thrilling mysteries—seems less inviting now, given the anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment that persists. 

With over 80% of Ghanaians disapproving of same-sex relationships, the environment feels not only morally challenging but also potentially unsafe for someone like me to visit. Beyond the physical risks, there’s a more profound ethical dilemma: Why should I continue to patronize a society that rejects who I am? This conflict has left me in a place where my passion for writing about Ghana has been replaced by a sense of disillusionment, making it hard to find the same inspiration that once drove me.