Deported Ghanaian woman is denied kidney dialysis
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A terminally-ill Ghanaian woman who was forcibly removed from Britain despite her critical condition has failed to find the medical attention she needs in Ghana.
Ama Sumani, 39, who needs regular kidney dialysis for myeloma, was deported this week because her student visa had expired. British officials claimed to have checked that treatment would be available in Ghana before they sent her back, but the high hospital fees she faced on arrival have left her unable to get essential care.
Ms Sumani had been on a programme of dialysis at the University Hospital of Wales. But when she arrived in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Wednesday, the hospital there asked for $6,000 (£3,060) to cover just three months of treatment.
British immigration officials who accompanied her to the hospital offered to pay for the first three months, but the offer was rejected because Ms Sumani had no source of funds to continue it once that time had expired.
Ms Sumani's lawyer, Sara Changkee, said: "It's just so sad; her only future now is death. We have rules and procedures for a reason, but where the system fails is in exercising discretion based on circumstances."
The Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, the co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Kidney Group, lambasted the Government's "callous" attitude to her plight. "This shows the Government at its most amoral, no doubt arguing that if they don't act tough then other people will deliberately develop fatal kidney failure in order to evade immigration control," he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments