A Ghanaian man was found staying at Wat Chalong in Phuket after local residents alerted police to a foreign man sleeping inside the temple grounds. Officers from Chalong Police Station later took the man into custody, recorded his details and transferred the case to the relevant authorities for further action.

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The man admitted he had travelled to Phuket hoping to find work after struggling financially and being unable to secure employment in his home country. He said he only had enough money to buy a one-way plane ticket and intended to “take his chances” after arriving in Thailand.

According to the man, advice shared within online groups encouraged foreigners facing financial problems to go to temples in Thailand, where they could receive free food, accommodation and a place to sleep. He also claimed there were guides teaching people how to survive while living in Thailand under such conditions.

Residents near Wat Chalong became suspicious after noticing the man regularly sleeping within the temple area for several days. Police found him carrying a bag and discovered discarded banana peels near the area where he had been resting, indicating he had been staying there for at least two to three days.

Authorities have not released further details regarding his immigration status or possible legal action. The case has been handed over to the relevant agencies for consideration and further proceedings.

The incident has drawn attention to the growing number of foreign visitors in Thailand attempting to extend their stay while facing financial hardship. Temples have traditionally served as places of refuge, although cases involving foreign nationals staying long term can raise concerns among local residents and authorities.

Officials are expected to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s arrival and stay in Phuket. No additional information has been released about whether he will face deportation or receive assistance from immigration or social welfare agencies.

Pictures courtesy of Phuket Times

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Phuket Times 23 May 2026

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2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He said he only had enough money to buy a one-way plane ticket and intended to “take his chances” after arriving in Thailand.

But that´s impossible! The rule states that he must be able to show sufficient funds when entering- Here we have to blame immigration for not doing their work! 😂

Well, consider: Here's a Ghanaian who is obviously not a romance scammer or any other type, at the opposite side of the spectrum, just (apparently) looking to get a toehold somewhere that he could find a job and pay his way. So, better this than have him fall in with real scammers. Just an opinion, nothing more.

Edited May 23May 23 by Jonathan Swift

Yes looks like immigration at the airport failed big time in not catching this guy out one way ticket ( good song by the group Erruption )

Plus no address which you usually put on the arrival card and having money

To live on

He provided a completely honest explanation for his situation. Buddha taught metta, lovingkindness, which is what this guy deserves. I don't think I've ever seen a Black Buddhist monk! Dudeshould put his peels in the trash. Hope he comes through this without legal consequences.

I passed my first farang beggar yesterday, on the skywalk from Lumpini to Sirikit. Better than the hot, smoggy, cop-filled street but nobody was giving him anything.

This man's situation looks like a breakdown at several levels (assuming he entered Thailand legally in the first place).

A Ghanaian passport requires a visa for Thailand, so he shouldn’t have been able to board a flight without one.

Most airlines also insist on proof of onward travel.

And even with both of those, Thai Immigration is supposed to check whether a traveller has sufficient funds and meets entry conditions.

If all of that was bypassed, something clearly didn’t work as intended in this case (especially as he said he only had enough money to buy a one-way plane ticket)!

I too would choose a temple floor in Thailand than welfare and board in England.

Feel sorry for him. Got to be a hard life. Why doesnt he start a youtube channel along with the rest of the unfortunate people who have one.

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The man admitted he had travelled to Phuket hoping to find work after struggling financially and being unable to secure employment in his home country. He said he only had enough money to buy a one-way plane ticket and intended to “take his chances” after arriving in Thailand.

That's a long way to travel for someone who struggles financially.

6 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Well, consider: Here's a Ghanaian who is obviously not a romance scammer or any other type, at the opposite side of the spectrum, just (apparently) looking to get a toehold somewhere that he could find a job and pay his way. So, better this than have him fall in with real scammers. Just an opinion, nothing more.

Yeah, sad they picked him up in a way. Spends all his time in temples and is probably the most harmless African in all of Thailand.

I guess the thing to do if you fancy or have to adopt that kind of lifestyle is to change your temple every couple of days. That way you'd also get to see much more of the country.

Something smells fishy about this story.

12 hours ago, Caldera said:

That's a long way to travel for someone who struggles financially.

My parents took a boat from England to Canada after WW2 to start a new life from having nothing. They worked their asses off doing any and every job to gain a foothold in their new country. Some countries are such shi tholes that one must take their chances abroad. They said that England was terrible after the war and always marvelled at the abundance, variety and relatively low cost of groceries in Canada. We heard "mate, you've got no idea how good you've got it" many times growing up in the land of milk and honey.

Good luck and fair winds to this young man from Ghana. I hope he finds his own land of milk and honey.

I thought they were mostly Christians ?

He did well , might end up with his

own space ship temple one day .!

Plus a dozen Rollers !

19 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

This man's situation looks like a breakdown at several levels (assuming he entered Thailand legally in the first place).

A Ghanaian passport requires a visa for Thailand, so he shouldn’t have been able to board a flight without one.

Most airlines also insist on proof of onward travel.

And even with both of those, Thai Immigration is supposed to check whether a traveller has sufficient funds and meets entry conditions.

If all of that was bypassed, something clearly didn’t work as intended in this case (especially as he said he only had enough money to buy a one-way plane ticket)!

He could have arrived on a proper tourist visa. Regarding onward travel ticket, I have read many posters here giving advise to others about dummy tickets. And why is everyone assuming he was penniless on arrival? He could have had 20k baht to show if asked. And spent it here on food & lodging before it ran out.

Problems with sub-Saharan Africans became so bad in Bangkok a few years ago that the RTP set up Operation Black Eagle to deal with them.

Lower Suky was targeted first and they cleaned it up PDQ.

This effective tactic should be revived whenever and wherever needed.

It starts with a few rough sleepers, beggars, and scammers then escalates quickly as many more jump on the gravy train dealing drugs and into more serious crime.

So, he couldn't find employment and came up with Thailand as the answer... where working legally is one of the hardest things to do. Would have been better off jumping on a boat and taking his chances in Europe... the end result is inevitable here and he'll be back in Ghana before he can say "immigration center".

23 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

He provided a completely honest explanation for his situation. Buddha taught metta, lovingkindness, which is what this guy deserves. I don't think I've ever seen a Black Buddhist monk! Dudeshould put his peels in the trash. Hope he comes through this without legal consequences.

I passed my first farang beggar yesterday, on the skywalk from Lumpini to Sirikit. Better than the hot, smoggy, cop-filled street but nobody was giving him anything.

Janitor at high school I taught was a light skinned black man (similar looking Thais), nice guy and soft spoken. One afternoon he shared some of his story.

He was stationed at US Embassy detail during Viet Nam war. Became an ordained monk during his stay and was allowed to stay at temple. He laughingly told me some tourists remarked on his English ability, thinking he was Thai.

After he was discharged from military he got his monk papers and walked from Bangkok to Kathmandu.... People have stories of their lives you'd never guess....

8 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

My parents took a boat from England to Canada after WW2 to start a new life from having nothing. They worked their asses off doing any and every job to gain a foothold in their new country. Some countries are such shi tholes that one must take their chances abroad. They said that England was terrible after the war and always marvelled at the abundance, variety and relatively low cost of groceries in Canada. We heard "mate, you've got no idea how good you've got it" many times growing up in the land of milk and honey.

Good luck and fair winds to this young man from Ghana. I hope he finds his own land of milk and honey.

Jai dee, @flaming dragon . If only everyone could show some of the same compassion.

It was always a hard life for immigrants. But at least countries were happy to have you. The people there took some time to get to know you, coming before trust. And immigrants did tend to settle together, in groups of the own language, culture and religion.

Brits did not have such a hard time fitting in to Canada. After all, we were the same colour!

9 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

My parents took a boat from England to Canada after WW2 to start a new life from having nothing. They worked their asses off doing any and every job to gain a foothold in their new country. Some countries are such shi tholes that one must take their chances abroad. They said that England was terrible after the war and always marvelled at the abundance, variety and relatively low cost of groceries in Canada. We heard "mate, you've got no idea how good you've got it" many times growing up in the land of milk and honey.

Good luck and fair winds to this young man from Ghana. I hope he finds his own land of milk and honey.

What a "feel good" little story that is.

However, there are no credible similarities between Africans coming to Thailand these days and Brits going to Canada post WWII.

I was a child in the 1950s and yes, there were severe economic and social problems for ordinary people in the UK, but it certainly was not one of the world's "shi tholes".

Reaction to those conditions inspired the "Angry Young Men" to create a unique outburst of artwork - mainly literary - that defined the era.

The 1960s brought what can only be described as a cultural revolution that made itself felt worldwide, and nowhere more so than in the USA.

What did Canada produce in those two decades besides full bellies and self-satisfied attitudes?

20 hours ago, VillageIdiot said:

Something smells fishy about this story.

Yeah him after a few days living rough in that heat. 😖

It's kind of ironic that all those Thai-Chinese immigrants from the early to mid 20th century that were assimilated and created all these monopoly mega-corporations over time that now control everything are all not Thai in their origins... but have shut off all the avenues that they benefited from to protect their businesses through denying the opportunities they benefited from to others.

It is not about "Thailand for Thais", it's about stopping any competition to thier monolpolies, as the elites are all Chinese decendant that benefitted from the immigration that allowed them to become powerful. Look at every powerful "Thai" family... they are all Chinese-Thai and they couldn't care less about the Thais, they care about their grip on everything. That's why you are not allowed anything, own anything, or any rights, to protect the elite families that benefitted from what they now deny you and everyone else.

15 hours ago, CMHomeboy78 said:

What a "feel good" little story that is.

However, there are no credible similarities between Africans coming to Thailand these days and Brits going to Canada post WWII.

I was a child in the 1950s and yes, there were severe economic and social problems for ordinary people in the UK, but it certainly was not one of the world's "shi tholes".

Reaction to those conditions inspired the "Angry Young Men" to create a unique outburst of artwork - mainly literary - that defined the era.

The 1960s brought what can only be described as a cultural revolution that made itself felt worldwide, and nowhere more so than in the USA.

What did Canada produce in those two decades besides full bellies and self-satisfied attitudes?

I agree. My parents, and me by extension won the womb lottery.

15 hours ago, CMHomeboy78 said:

attitudes

What has Canada ever produced aside from that? It used to create opportunities before stumbling down the sad path the UK has trodden.

England was a miserable place back then, especially for those who didn't create art or music. The lucky ones got to leave whilst the rest suffered food rationing and shaking the coal dust off of the laundry that was hanged outside to dry. Those damp, moldy houses make living in an African mud hut sound like paradise.