Nelson Shardey Biography, Profile and Story
Everything you need to know about Nelson Shardey
Nelson Shardey, a retired 74-year-old Ghanaian man who has lived in the UK for nearly 50 years, will have to wait another 10 years to be granted citizenship. Despite paying taxes all his adult life, he discovered in 2019 that he was not officially British when he applied for a passport to return to Ghana for his mother’s funeral. He has never visited Ghana since 1977 and regards the UK as his home. Now, he has begun the 10-year process of acquiring UK citizenship, and once it’s complete, he will be allowed to stay permanently.
His story
Mr. Shardey, a retired newsagent, initially came to the UK in 1977 to pursue accountancy studies on a student visa that also permitted him to work. Due to a coup in Ghana, his family was unable to send him money for his fees. He took on various jobs, including working at Mother’s Pride bread and Kipling’s Cakes near Southampton, as well as Bendick’s Chocolate in Winchester. Interestingly, no one ever questioned his right to live or work in the UK during this time.
Mr. Shardey later married a British woman and moved to Wallasey, where he managed his own newsagent called Nelson’s News. After the end of that marriage, he married another British woman and they had two sons named Jacob and Aaron. Mr. Shardey encouraged his sons to pursue education and independence, and they both went on to attend university and establish successful careers as a research scientist and a public relations executive. Throughout his time in the UK, Mr. Shardey never felt the need to leave, as he considered it his home and encountered no challenges when making purchases or obtaining a mortgage.
The process of acquiring UK citizenship can be quite costly, amounting to approximately £7,000 over a span of 10 years, with an additional £10,500 for access to the NHS during that period. Unfortunately, Mr. Shardey, who is currently recovering from prostate cancer, cannot afford to pay these fees. It’s disheartening for him to be told that going through this process is a form of punishment, especially considering his deep commitment and contributions to the UK. To make matters more challenging, Mr. Shardey accidentally filled out the wrong form when he tried to extend his right to stay in the UK online two years ago. As a result, he had to restart the 10-year process in 2023, meaning he will not be granted permanent stay in the UK until he reaches the age of 84. This situation seems absurd to his son Jacob, who works in cardiovascular physiology research. Jacob questions why his father, who has been in the UK since 1977, needs to go through this lengthy process when he has been here longer than the Home Office personnel handling his case have been alive. It’s a frustrating and bewildering situation for the Shardey family.
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