Glasgow student Lord Apetsi granted reprieve from deportation

A student at the University of Strathclyde who has been faced with deportation has been given a temporary reprieve by the Home Office.

Lord Elias Mensah Apetsi, who has lived in the UK for nine years, has been the focus of an intense campaign by the National Union of Students (NUS) after he was detained by the Home Office last month in a dawn raid on his home.

He was moved to Gatwick for deportation to Ghana on 22 March while his two children remained in Glasgow.

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A Home Office spokesperson said: “All asylum applications are carefully considered on their individual merits, in line with the UK immigration rules.”

The NUS claim the deportation order was made in error before his case was heard, and has led a fundraising campaign which has raised over £4,000 to support the counselling student with his legal costs.

After his solicitors collated evidence to support his appeal The Home Office has now confirmed it will reconsider the case.

Refusals to consider a human rights claim or revoke Apetsi’s deportation order have now been withdrawn to allow the case to be heard, Holyrood understands.

NUS Scotland president Vonnie Sandlan said the battle was not over.

“We’ve already had some really important moments in the campaign to save Lord, not least stopping his deportation at the last minute, last month.

“Now our focus is on ensuring that his detention is overturned, and seeing him brought back to his home, his family and his studies in Glasgow, where he belongs,” she said.