Dr Paul Amissah, a Ghanaian living in the United States, has recounted how he was repeatedly bullied while attending a public school in the Bronx, New York, and called for stronger measures to protect students.

Sharing his experience in a video on TikTok, sighted by GhanaWeb on November 3, 2026, Amissah said he encountered several bullying incidents during his school days but had to exercise caution in responding to those who targeted him.

He recalled an incident in which a student repeatedly stared at him. When he asked why, the student allegedly told him that he looked ugly and smelled bad.

“So far as you are from Africa to them you are ugly and you stink,” he said.

According to Amissah, even some Black Americans treated African students with hostility.

He also recalled that he once resorted to bleaching his skin in the hope of addressing the discrimination, but the move did not stop the bullying, as students continued to make fun of him.

Amissah explained that although he was physically strong while growing up in Ghana and could have confronted those who bullied him, the situation in the United States was different because of the possibility that students could be carrying guns.

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"I was very strong when I was in Ghana, so I could have taken them on, but over there, they have guns, so you have to be careful," he recounted.

He said his academic performance and the support he received from teachers played a significant role in helping him cope with the challenges.

Describing himself as a brilliant student with a passion for learning and research, Amissah said his academic performance earned him the support and goodwill of his teachers.

He warned that bullying could have devastating consequences when victims are repeatedly targeted without receiving the necessary protection and intervention.

Amissah also urged the Ghanaian government to invest significantly in education to create safer and more supportive learning environments for young people.

He said such investment would help prevent students from losing their lives or having their futures cut short because of bullying.

His account comes amid renewed concerns about bullying following the death of Ghanaian student Javits Frimpong, whose passing has sparked discussions about student safety and the treatment of immigrants in American schools.

Watch the video below

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