Ghanaian Denied British Citizenship After 42 Years in the UK.

By Caroline Ameh

A retired 74-year-old Ghanaian man who has resided in the UK for nearly half a century is facing a decade-long wait before the Home Office grants him permanent residency, despite assuming he was considered British for many years.

Nelson Shardey, from Wallasey in Wirral, was shocked to discover in 2019 that he was not officially recognized as British, despite paying taxes throughout his adult life and making significant contributions to his community.

“I tried my utmost to educate them the best way I could, so that neither of them would depend on social or anything,” Mr. Shardey said, referring to his sons. “Nobody questioned me. I bought all my things on credit, even the house. I got a mortgage. And nobody questioned me about anything.”

Mr. Shardey, a former newsagent, arrived in the UK in 1977 on a student visa to study accountancy. After facing financial challenges due to a coup in Ghana, he took on various jobs, eventually settling in Wallasey where he married twice to British women and raised his sons.

Despite his decades-long residency and contributions to society, Mr. Shardey’s application for a passport in 2019 revealed he was not recognized as British by the Home Office. He was instructed to apply for the 10-year route to settlement, which would cost him approximately £7,000, in addition to £10,500 to access the NHS over the same period.

“I cannot afford to pay any part of the money they are asking,” said Mr. Shardey, who is currently recovering from prostate cancer. “Telling me to go through that route is a punishment, and it’s not fair in any way.”

Mr. Shardey’s son, Jacob, expressed disbelief at the situation, stating, “Why would he need to go and start this 10-year route when he’s been here since 1977? He’s been here longer than the people who are working in the Home Office on his case have been alive.”

With the assistance of Nicola Burgess, a lawyer at Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU), Mr. Shardey is now pursuing legal action against the Home Office. His case argues that he should be considered an exception due to his lengthy residency and his contributions to the community, including receiving a police bravery award in 2007.

“We know that at least one caseworker has looked at his file and suggested that he should be granted indefinite leave to remain because there are exceptional facts,” Ms. Burgess stated. “And when you look at it on a personal level, if Nelson was your friend or your neighbour, you would absolutely agree that he should be given the immediate right to settle.”

Despite inquiries, the Home Office declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.

The Shardey family is now seeking support through crowdfunding to cover the legal expenses associated with the case, which highlights the complexities and challenges faced by individuals navigating immigration policies in the UK.