Nelson Shardey, a retired 74-year-old man from Ghana who has lived in the UK for almost half a century, has been informed that he must wait for 10 years before the Home Office will grant him permanent residency. Shardey, who hails from Wallasey in Wirral, had always thought that he was officially considered British. However, in 2019, he discovered that this was not the case. Despite having paid all his adult life’s taxes, he faces paying thousands of pounds to remain in the country and access the NHS.
In 1977, retired newsagent Mr Shardey travelled to the UK on a student visa that also allowed him to work, as this helped him support himself when his family could no longer afford to fund his education after a coup occurred in Ghana. He held numerous jobs, including working for Mother’s Pride bread and Kipling’s Cakes near Southampton, and Bendick’s Chocolate in Winchester. Shardey never encountered any issues regarding his right to work and live in the UK.
He married a British woman and moved to Wallasey to establish his newsagent business called Nelson’s News. After the end of that marriage, he married another British woman and had two sons named Jacob and Aaron. Shardey gave his sons the instruction to “learn hard, get a good job, and work for themselves”. Jacob later became a research scientist, while Aaron became a public relations executive.
When Shardey applied for a passport to visit his deceased mother’s home in Ghana in 2019, he realised that he was not a British citizen. The Home Office declared that he had no right to live in the UK and recommended that he apply for the 10-year settlement process, which was intended for people seeking work in the UK. This process costs about £7,000 over ten years, with another £10,500 over the same duration to access the NHS. Shardey, who is recovering from prostate cancer, cannot afford to pay any portion of the cost, stating that he has devoted his whole self and life to the UK.
Through crowdfunding, Shardey’s sons are assisting him in funding a case against the Home Office. With the assistance of a lawyer at Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU), they believe Mr Shardey has been in the UK for so long and has a bravery award and community service, indicating that he should be treated differently. A Home Office spokesperson declined to comment, stating that active litigation is inappropriate for discussion
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