Coach Abubakari, a Ghanaian Olympic coach, has shared his heartbreaking story in an interview with DJ Nyaami On SVTV Africa Daily Hustle Worldwide show revealed how betrayal, debt, and sickness have left him stranded in the UK.
The coach, well-known in Ghana for training athletes—including disabled athletes and legends—explained that his troubles began in 2020 when he worked with a secretary to organize travel opportunities for people through sports.
In 2022, after traveling with athletes for competitions in Manchester and Birmingham, his secretary absconded with huge sums of money meant for travel arrangements.
“The secretary bolted to the USA with people’s money. In all, he took about GH¢180,000 and also £48,000. Some people paid GH¢40,000, others GH¢30,000, and some GH¢20,000. Altogether, 13 people were affected,” Coach Abubakari revealed.
The situation put him under intense pressure, as angry clients and their families began chasing him for refunds. Unable to withstand the heat, he fled to the UK almost three years ago.
Life abroad, however, has not been easy.
“I haven’t gotten a stable job. I was later diagnosed with cancer. In Ghana, I believed soursop could cure it, but here I can’t even find that. I’m desperate. My wife and children keep asking me for money, but I’m struggling myself,” he confessed.
He explained that his living conditions in the UK are poor, and he hasn’t been able to change his room setup since arriving. He only recently managed to secure a warehouse job to survive and hopes to use that income to gradually pay off the debts.
Coach Abubakari lamented that many Ghanaians spend huge sums of money to travel abroad but end up suffering.
“If you are in Ghana and can raise GH¢100,000 to pay a connection man, use that same money to start a business. Some people have houses in Ghana yet still want to come abroad and suffer. Many Ghanaians here are homeless. If a free plane comes to London today, within an hour it will be full with people trying to go back home,” he advised.
According to him, the same secretary who ran away with people’s money has now joined the US Army. He is calling on him to make amends.
“I’m sick and desperate here. I need to return to Ghana. The only way I can go back peacefully is if the secretary who ran away with the money pays back so I can refund the victims. I came here with a six-month visa and have overstayed. He went to the USA with a five-year visa and left me to suffer,” Coach Abubakari said painfully.
The coach concluded that his only wish now is to settle the debts, reunite with his family, and return to Ghana to live in peace.
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