Adwoa, a Ghanaian living in the United Kingdom, migrated there with her husband through the Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) process. Unfortunately, her marriage has since ended in divorce, leaving her jobless while her ex-husband successfully processed his documents.
Speaking in an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Matter Dey, Adwoa explained that the divorce took place in 2023. She revealed that they initially planned to switch her visa status in the UK, but the process was cancelled despite her efforts to work and save money. Later, her husband told her he wanted a divorce. The person who arranged their marriage had already filed documents for them, but before their settlement was finalized, she received the divorce papers.
Adwoa further revealed that the UK government had introduced restrictions, requiring sponsors to secure jobs before bringing people over for care roles. In the process, her ex-husband removed her from his documents (Nkrataa). They had discussed the possibility of him remarrying her and adding her back onto his papers, but he never showed interest, which made her give up on the relationship.
She also shared that the cost of switching her visa status was around £9,000, while her initial COS processing demanded £15,000. With no stable job now, her rent is paid by support, and she survives on the money she had saved.
Adwoa narrated how another relationship also ended badly. She dated a man who had valid documents, but when her papers expired, he abandoned her. She later found herself with another man who hid his marriage status from her. After she got pregnant, he pressured her to abort, saying he was not ready to be a father.
According to her, raising a child in the UK without the support of a husband is very difficult since childcare is expensive and demanding. She admitted that if she finds a responsible partner who can care for her and the child, she would consider keeping the pregnancy. Her lawyer even advised her to marry a single father so she could be added to his documents.
Currently living in Coventry, Adwoa emphasized that without legal documents (Nkrataa), dating in the UK is tough, as many people exploit others because of their immigration status. She wished she had stayed longer in Ghana after high school to pursue nursing training, but her family brought her abroad too early, leaving her struggling alone in the UK.