A Ghanaian man who spent over 17 years in the United States has shared his devastating experience of deportation following his arrest and prosecution over a brief romance with an African American woman.
According to Big Sam, he entered the U.S. through an exchange programme, later marrying a citizen to secure his green card. In an interview with Kofi TV on YouTube, he recounted, “When I got my green card in 2007, I became a legal resident, working and paying taxes.
In 2009, I came to Ghana with my child. When we returned to America, I had issues with my wife, and she left the house. I was lonely then…but an expert in playing golf."
Big Sam explained that during a conversation with one of his golf partners, he mentioned his separation from his wife, prompting his friend to introduce him to an African American woman.
“We went out three times. One day, he called me to meet her, but I couldn’t because I had homework for my master’s programme. Later that evening, a friend invited me somewhere,” Sam recounted.
He went on, “I got drunk… I received a call from the lady to come over. We went out and had fun. I sat in her car to talk and began to play romance with her, kissing her and all that.”
He continued, “When I started fondling her breasts, she showed resistance and told me to stop. I realised she was serious and stopped. Later, my friend called to say the girl was upset and didn’t want to see me again. I called her, but she didn’t pick up, so I sent her a message apologizing.”
Shortly afterward, Big Sam received a call from the police. “The CID asked if I knew the girl and played a recording of our interaction. I requested a lawyer,” he explained. Despite his friends advising him to flee, he chose to stay, believing he had done nothing wrong.
However, soon after, he was arrested with a warrant for unlawful sexual contact. “About ten police vans stormed my house. I was put behind bars for a long time before being sentenced to 24 months in county jail. After serving my sentence, immigration officers were waiting for me because I wasn’t a U.S. citizen and had committed a crime before reaching seven years with my green card. I was taken to court, and the judge ordered my deportation. One day at 3 o’clock, I was deported to Ghana.”
After his deportation, Sam's struggles continued. He entered a business arrangement with a man who, he said, scammed him out of his life savings of $7,000 and an additional GH¢102,000 from the sale of his three-bedroom house. “After being deported, I was introduced to a man for a business deal. He scammed me of my life savings of $7,000 and GH¢102,000. I sold my three-bedroom house and invested the money in his business, which he called America Tilapia.”
Sam then attempted a fresh start in Turkey, borrowing $3,000, only to face another setback. He was arrested and imprisoned for three months before being deported back to Ghana.
Reflecting on his trials, he shared, “As long as you live, there is always an opportunity out there. That is my belief. As long as I’m healthy and not sick, there is always a way. I have had suicidal thoughts sometimes, thinking why not just end it.”
Despite the struggles and betrayals, Big Sam’s story underscores his resilience and belief in a better future.
AM/OGB
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