UK Citizen of Ghanaian Origin Stranded in Ghana Over Date of Birth Irregularity, Video
- An 81-year-old British citizen, Hannah Dankwa, has been stranded in Ghana after officials blocked her return flight
- Airport staff cited a date of birth irregularity, despite her travelling with the same documents for over four decades
- Her family appealed to UK authorities for intervention as her health had worsened due to her cancer treatment needs
A sad moment has triggered many after an aged British citizen of Ghanaian origin was left stranded in Ghana after authorities blocked her return to the United Kingdom.
Source: Youtube
Madam Hannah Dankwa is an 81-year-old woman who is reportedly battling cancer. According to the report, she travelled from London to Kumasi four months ago for a short two-week holiday.
After the ill-fated holiday was over, she was prevented by airport officials from boarding her return flight to the UK, citing a reported 'irregularity' with her date of birth as the reason.
Strangely, Hannah claimed she had used the same travel documents without issue for more than four decades of travelling to Ghana from the UK. The relatives of Hannah had been left in distress following the sudden refusal.
British citizen gets stuck in Ghana
Because of her illness, she explained during her interview with journalist Ayshah Tull, she has been left vulnerable and in need of urgent medical treatment back home in the UK. The incident has also drawn comparisons to the Windrush Scandal.
Source: Youtube
Family members have appealed for urgent intervention from the UK Home Office and the British High Commission in Ghana, warning that her health could deteriorate without immediate access to treatment.
The Windrush Scandal came to light seven years ago.
The scandal was said to expose how thousands of long-term UK residents, many from Commonwealth countries invited to live and work in Britain after World War II, had their immigration status wrongly questioned or stripped away.
Nigerian Human Rights Lawyer comments
During an interview with YEN.com.gh, a Nigerian Human Rights Lawyer and Lagos-based advocate, Barrister Ifeanyi Obasi said:
"First and foremost, Ghanaian authorities must immediately clarify the nature and basis of the alleged date of birth irregularity. If no evidence of fraud or misrepresentation exists, and considering the consistency of her documents over 40 years, she should not be subjected to punitive restrictions.
The UK authorities must also act decisively. The British High Commission in Accra should initiate consular support, verify her citizenship and documentation, and engage Ghanaian counterparts diplomatically to lift the hold. If necessary, they should provide medical evacuation support."
The full story of Madam Hannah Dankwa is included in the post below:
UK-based woman stuck in Ghana stirs reactions
YEN.com.gh collected reactions from Ghanaians who watched the video on X. Some of the comments are below.
@Xerxes_9 wrote:
"This is incompetence of the highest degree."
@thepowderguy1 questioned:
"What sort of incompetence is this?"
@barron_muhammad commented:
"Imagine being stranded in your homeland. 🤔"
@SemexDaniel wrote:
"You see why I will never come back when I travel abroad."
@1donyara commented:
"This is a clear case of use and dump now the UK government knows that she is weak & can't contribute anything to their economy, so they don't recognise her being part of them. Ask yourself if they can treat a White citizen of the UK like this. Racism is Real."
@euxenitejax said:
"There’s irregularity with her date of birth. No way she’s 82."
British-Ghanaian boy wins forced return appeal
YEN.com.gh had earlier reported that the UK Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling, allowing a 14-year-old British-Ghanaian boy to return from Ghana.
Judges found that the lower court had failed to fully consider the emotional distress, psychological harm, and lack of consent resulting from the initial decision.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
