By Ollus Ndomu
A retired 74-year-old Ghanaian man, who has lived in the UK for nearly 50 years, must wait another decade to be granted citizenship. Despite paying taxes all his adult life, Nelson Shardey discovered in 2019 that he was not officially British when he applied for a passport to return to Ghana for his mother’s funeral.
Shardey, who left Ghana in 1977 and has not visited since, regarded the UK as his home.
He has now commenced the 10-year process of acquiring UK citizenship and will be allowed to stay permanently once the process is completed.
Shardey’s case highlights the complexities faced by long-term residents who find themselves entangled in immigration bureaucracy despite their deep roots and contributions to their adopted country.
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