I married my partner here in the UK exactly 3 years ago – we live happily together with his 12 years old son, whom he was supporting and now we both support, and is developing into quite the young man! His mother still lives in Ghana and has no wish to come to the UK – but understandably, has the best wishes and hopes for her son. My partner was expected to “match up” with his son’s mother when he was a teenager, but it didnt work out – to his and her parent’s chagrin.

I can easily envisage many more happy years between us to come; we have a fulfilling relationship, and we get along like a family – even though it is an all-male family, of sorts. It can work – but only with perserverance. There are real men in Ghana, who are really gay, and who need to escape from the illegal and grinding reality that they have of necessity had to embrace as life. My partner is now 34, we met online when he was 28 – but no money exchanged hands under any circumstances until I managed to meet him in the flesh. That way, I suppose, I was able to keep our relationship “clean”.

I have come across others who ask for money on the 2nd or 3rd email, when trying to establish friendships. These, I refuse to reply t again, as it is obvious what their main intentions are. They spend all day in front of a computer to make a living by deceiving others – not a good way to do it, but unless some form of legitimate employment with decent wages comes their way, this is what they are restricted to.

I am 48 – no spring chicken, but at least young enough and with still some life left in me. 14 years of an age gap isnt much, when one examines things truthfully. My partner and I have often discussed retiring to Sunyani and setting up some kind of business to keep these internet hounds TRULY busy, earning an honest living for a change – without cheating the “obroni” for once in their lives!