'Dream come true' to meet other Ghanaians in NI

When Nanannan Mensah arrived in Northern Ireland from Ghana to accept as a job as a nurse, she didn't know anyone in the city she had moved to.

Three years on, Ms Mensah, who lives in Londonderry with her family, said that while navigating life here had not been without its challenges, she had been able to find support from fellow Ghanaians who also made the move.

Ghanaian Community NI (GCNI) is a newly-established group that has been set up to connect and support Northern Ireland's growing west African community.

GCNI held its first official event in Derry on Saturday to celebrate Ghana's 68th Independence Day.

Formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1957.

For Ms Mensah, seeing Ghanaians based in Northern Ireland come together was a "dream come true".

"We haven't had an official group before now in the North West, so it's really exciting to come together to celebrate our culture, heritage, who we are and what we stand for," she told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.

"You do need a lot of support when you come to a different country and with the group, you can call people who may have been through similar experiences and for me, that's really reassuring."

Ms Mensah said she had encountered challenges in Northern Ireland especially around finding accommodation.

"That was a big issue, it took a long time to find somewhere and then you have to find someone credible to guarantee it for you, and when you don't know anyone in the beginning, that is really hard," she said.

"For some of our children as well, they can experience bullying, and you have to learn to navigate the education system.

"But I feel we are moving away from that, and I see my family's future in Northern Ireland."

Theodora Essuman a nurse who lives in Omagh, came to Northern Ireland four years ago and first lived in Derry before moving to County Tyrone.

"I fell in love with Omagh. It is a peaceful place and a good place to raise children," she said.

Ms Essuman said not having the support of her extended family underlined the importance of a group like GCNI.

"In the beginning, it's very difficult to leave without that support. You come here alone, and your family is back home," she said.

"The Irish community has been very welcoming, especially at my work and church, but when I came here four years ago, there was not many people in Omagh with my skin colour.

"Coming together today and seeing others from Ghana does make you feel like you belong."

Justice Koomson., who also works as a nurse and has been in Derry for the past three years, found adjusting to Northern Ireland culture to be one of the biggest challenges.

"It can get lonely," he said.

"The people we see here at today's event don't necessarily see each other every day.

"You can find yourself alone and it's just you and your work."

Mr Koomson, a member of the Ghanian Ashanti tribe, said celebrating Ghanian independence while living in Northern Ireland made him proud.

"I am so proud of my country, and I feel like the Ghanaian community is growing here," he said.

"Celebrating independence is a great opportunity for the community based in NI to come together and I do see a future for myself here."