A Ghanaian asylum seeker has been granted the right to remain in the UK after successfully arguing that the trauma caused by his experience with COVID-19 would make it unsafe for him to return to his home country.
Winfred Kwabla Dogbey, 52, contracted COVID-19 in 2020 and developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of his severe battle with the virus, British Democrats reports.
His condition, described as “post-COVID-19 syndrome,” has been recognized as a critical part of his rehabilitation following the outbreak.
The panel reviewing his case found that the mental health care system in Ghana is grossly underdeveloped, with few resources available to treat conditions like PTSD.
They concluded that if Mr. Dogbey were sent back to Ghana, he would likely experience a significant and rapid decline in his mental health. This finding ultimately led to his successful claim to remain in the UK.
Mr. Dogbey arrived in the UK in April 2013 on a visa and applied for asylum in June 2016. His application was initially denied, and he spent years submitting additional appeals.
The tribunal heard that in May 2020, Mr. Dogbey was hospitalized for critical care after contracting COVID-19, suffering from severe pneumonia and organ failure.
The court also considered a letter from Mr. Dogbey’s general practitioner, which detailed his diagnosis of post-COVID-19 syndrome, PTSD, and major depressive disorder (MDD).
In making his decision, the judge ruled that Mr. Dogbey should be allowed to stay in the UK under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects individuals from inhumane or degrading treatment.
