Ghanaian Senior Nurse in the UK Shares Heartbreaking Story of Betrayal, Loss, and Survival
Nana Aba, a Ghanaian senior nurse now living in the United Kingdom, has opened up about her painful journey to the UK — one filled with deception, loss, and resilience. In an emotional interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide, she recounted how she lost over GH¢230,000 to a fake visa agent while trying to help others travel abroad.
Before moving to the UK, Nana Aba served diligently in Ghana’s health sector, rising through all nursing ranks. She described herself as a hardworking woman who had never experienced poverty. “I was comfortable in Ghana,” she said. “I even owned a small business, drove an Uber, and once received an award for hard work.”
However, her dream of becoming a lawyer took a turn when she met a woman who promised to help her relocate abroad through a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) program. “I had gained admission to law school and was pursuing my second degree when a pregnant woman told me she could help me travel to the UK,” she said. “She charged £8,000 per person, or £16,000 for couples.”
Nana Aba introduced four people to the same woman, and all successfully left for the UK — giving her confidence that the process was genuine. She sold all her belongings to raise money for herself and her husband. “When my landlord found out we were traveling, he evicted us. We became homeless for a while,” she recalled.
After paying a total of £14,000, Nana Aba and her husband finally moved to the UK. Unfortunately, their struggles continued. Her husband’s visa was about to expire, and in desperation, she sought help from a Ghanaian man who claimed to be a doctor and biochemist. “He told us he could help, but it required more money,” she said. “Meanwhile, the lady who initially helped us refused to refund the money we had given her.”
Nana Aba later found herself deeply entangled with another man who claimed to run a travel and tour company in Spintex, Accra. He promised to help others she introduced to him — including friends, siblings, and even members of her church — travel to the UK and Dubai. “He took £14,000 per person for UK CoS visas and GH¢45,000 for Dubai,” she revealed.
At first, things seemed legitimate. But later, Nana Aba discovered that the man had issued fake CoS documents and fled with the money. “He changed his contact numbers and blocked everyone. In total, 14 people lost their money — over GH¢800,000,” she said.
The scam left her devastated. “People started calling me a fraud because I had introduced them. Some even reported my brother to the police because he had received their payments through his bank account,” she said tearfully. “I was depressed, lost strength after multiple surgeries, and at one point, I wanted to end my life.”
Despite everything, Nana Aba continues to work as a nurse in the UK, using her little earnings to repay part of the debt. “So far, I’ve refunded over GH¢230,000, even though I was a victim too,” she shared. “I regret ever getting involved, and I will never help anyone with travel processes again.”
She ended her story with a heartfelt plea to others:
“If someone promises you an easy way abroad, please investigate thoroughly. I lost everything — my peace, my money, and my trust — because I believed the wrong people.”