Degovna, a Ghanaian currently based in London, recently returned as a guest on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami.
Sharing his story, he revealed that he first traveled to the UK through a “COS” (Certificate of Sponsorship) program but hopes to switch to the army one day—an ambition inspired by his grandfather, whom he considers a hero.
According to Degovna, things took a dramatic turn for two people who traveled under the same COS arrangement. The main applicant allegedly began demanding money from his dependent, and when disagreements arose, the relationship between them broke down. The man later renewed his COS without the woman, leaving her visa to be canceled.
Feeling betrayed, the woman reported to the Home Office, claiming that her supposed husband had deceived authorities and that she was actually married to someone else in another country. The situation worsened when she became pregnant.
Degovna explained that they later spoke with the main applicant, who provided them with his National Insurance number before his own visa expired, but by then, the woman’s documents had already lapsed. “Now that we are in October,” he said, “the only option left is to reapply or seek legal help.”
He also discussed the UK government’s plan to introduce digital verification systems, where biometric data will be required for job applications. “This means that if you are an illegal immigrant, you won’t be able to work,” he added.
Reflecting on his own life in the UK, Degovna shared how, despite holding a master’s degree, he works as a toilet cleaner. “In Ghana, completing university might mean starting a mobile money business to survive,” he said. “But here, even a cleaning job can pay enough to take care of your family back home and help you build something.”
He compared the pay difference between Ghana and the UK, noting that a security officer in Ghana earns around ₵500, which isn’t enough to live on. “Here, that same person could work as a cleaner or a care assistant and make far more,” he emphasized.
Before moving abroad, Degovna worked at a bank and later at the harbour in Ghana, where he was the youngest employee among older workers who refused to retire so they could hold onto their positions.
He concluded his story with a sobering truth:
“The rich will continue to be rich, and the poor will continue to be poor. You must work hard and make smart choices if you want to change your story.”
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