A retired 74-year-old Ghanaian man, Nelson Shardey, residing in Wallasey, Wirral, has encountered a daunting bureaucratic hurdle after living in the UK for nearly 50 years, as he faces a ten-year wait to secure permanent residency.
Shardey, who initially arrived in the UK in 1977 to study accountancy, found himself unexpectedly entangled in a legal battle with the Home Office when he applied for a passport to visit Ghana after his mother’s passing in 2019.
To his surprise, he was informed that he was not considered a British citizen, despite decades of residence and contributions to British society.
Despite marrying British citizens and raising his family in the UK, Shardey discovered his uncertain legal status only recently, prompting him to seek clarification from the Home Office.
He was then instructed to apply for a ten-year route to settlement, a process requiring substantial financial commitments, which he finds himself unable to afford, particularly due to his ongoing recovery from prostate cancer.
Shardey’s situation has sparked outrage and disbelief among his family and supporters, who question why he is subjected to such a protracted process given his lengthy residence in the country and his significant contributions, including acts of bravery and community service.
His son, Jacob, expressed his frustration, stating, “He’s been here longer than the people who are working in the Home Office on his case have been alive.”
With legal assistance from Nicola Burgess at the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, Shardey is now challenging the Home Office’s decision in court, arguing that his case merits special consideration due to his exceptional circumstances and long-standing ties to the UK.
“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,” Burgess explained.
While the Home Office declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings, Shardey and his family remain hopeful for a favorable resolution that recognizes his invaluable contributions and grants him the right to settle in the country he has long called home.
