It has emerged that many Ghanaians living in the Greater London area of the United Kingdom are dying from heart related diseases in recent times.
This has been attributed to severe pressure of work, marital issues and also pressures from back home in Ghana which results in people working long hours thereby ending up with heart problems.
A one-year investigation by Graphic Online’s correspondent in London, Nana Sifa Twum has revealed that, an average of 120 Ghanaians living in the Greater London area have died annually within the last three years.
Out of the figure, about 75 percent of them died out of heart related diseases such as Cardiomegaly, Heart failure, Heart arrhythmia, Cardiomyopathy, hypertension, Acute myocardial infarction and aspiration pneumonia among others.
Over 100 copies of their death certificates available to Graphic Online showing they died as a result of heart troubles put their ages between 30 and 60 and mostly male.
In some cases, the over one year-long investigations also revealed that immigration and financial issues triggered the heart problems of the deceased.
Related: 75% Ghanaians would migrate abroad if given the chance - Survey
Elizabeth, the wife of one James Yaw Owusu, who passed away at the Saint Bartholomew’s hospital in January this year of Cardiomyopathy, told Graphic Online that her husband overworked himself for the past seven years.
James worked more than 14 hours per day for six days every week, she noted.
She said her husband had three jobs of three, seven and four hours each at different places of about seven miles apart and he had to struggle daily to be present at all times.
Juana Manford also told Graphic Online in an interview that she barely saw her late husband at home.
She said, she never set eyes on her husband, Arnold Manford, 48, who died at the Whipp Cross hospital in December last year for four weeks before his death.
“All for him was work, work, work she never met me at home,” she acknowledged.
Last January, Alex, a renowned Ghanaian driver, loved by many Ghanaians, a father of four, was on a taxi attending hospital for a checkup when he suddenly collapsed on the way.
The Irish taxi driver had to call an ambulance crew to attend to him, but he died, before they got to the hospital. His untimely death was attributed to heart failure.
It was also discovered that about 60 percent of the diseased worked with car hiring, security, cleaning and delivery companies.
These areas of work are typically demanding.
For instance, some delivery companies have working policies where their drivers work as self-employed without annual leave and sick pay.
So drivers are compelled to work all the time even when they are sick. If drivers report sick or fail to turn-up for work, for any reason they will be fined. Besides some of them will have to deliver about 200 parcels a day irrespective of traffic situations in the city. Anything short of this will attract a fine.
Some drivers of car hiring companies have no working terms and conditions with the companies they work for and will have to stress themselves to earn reasonable amount for themselves weekly.
A driver, Daniel Danquah said there are certain times that he will have to work continuously for about 18 hours just to make what he will need to survive.
The President of the Reconciliation International, a Ghanaian Welfare and Bereavement charity in the UK, Archbishop Kwaku Frimpong- Manso whose organisation has been in the forefront of funeral arrangement of almost all Ghanaian deaths in the Great London area noted in an interview with Graphic Online that last year alone six Ghanaians died in their rooms unnoticed.
They were rather discovered later after alarms were raised. He noted that two of the bodies had been decomposed.
He disclosed that this year alone, his office has recorded 44 deaths within the Ghanaian community, 38 were heart related.
Source: Daily Graphic
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Chicken and chips. Burgers and coca cola Alcohol and smoke.
The choice of food we consume here is also a factor.Majority of Ghanains here in Uk don't even have time to eat healthy meal.All they know is building big mansions back home. Instead of them to take time of from work to prepare home made dishes,they will rather end up buying chicken and chips which is bad for our health.What i also noticed during an investigation into this issue is that ALCOHOL is a key factor as well.Some of us here drink too much all because of pressure from back home.Marital problems and Immigration issues are also a factor. MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD TAKE CARE OF US ALL..
Those politicians and public office holders who rob the country for their selfish needs know very well that in then whiteman's country, no such opportunities exist for them. So,they stay in politics to realize their aim of amassing ill-gotten wealth. And shockingly, you will get some Ghanaians who will support such corrupt politicians and public officials. God save Ghana. The white man will no pay you for no work done. He makes sure you justify your income. Much of the pressure is from the workplace. I WILL ADVISE DIASPORANS TO VALUE THEIR LIVES OVER WEALTH. HOW WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO THEM IF THEY DO NOT LIVE TO ENJOY THEIR LABOR IN THE FUTURE.
I stayed briefly in Germany.......the situation was soo tough.....fellow Ghanaian's told me it was ok in Deutschland and that Yankee was the baddest.....i came to Ghana.....and am more than happy.....When i advise young artisans who want to make the journey.....they tell me am lying......and i don't want them to travel and make it.....I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE SOME LOVE ABROKYIRE AND THEY WANT TO DIE THERE
VERY SAD PIECE !!! for Ghanaians and for that matter all immigrants in the UK the problem is that a lot of Ghanaians have no choice but to work themselves to DEATH to make living !!!; they want to achieve everything in life ; they wish to build houses in Ghana and therefore quickly have to do anything ; some refuse to rest and will not go see the Doctor to check their HBP; diabeties and prostate examination ; having children in the UK and working is not easy but when they are told that it is not easy they tell you if the UK is not good why do you stay and not come back home yourself !!!!!!
Sad though the story is, yet how many of these persons would have listened to advice that the streets of London are not paved with gold. The figures stated in the survey are an under estimation because there are many who have died and been buried in mass graves because no one knew of their identity. They will keep coming and they will keep dying because they fail to listen to advice.