“THE PRIME MINISTER SNATCHED MY WIFE”: EXPERIENCES OF SEPARATED AND DIVORCED GHANAIAN IMMIGRANT MEN IN HAMILTON.

Abstract

This research investigates the experiences of Ghanaian immigrant men in Hamilton regarding the impact of family finances on their separation and divorce from their wives. Framed through critical, constructionist, and intersectional lenses, this study utilized phenomenological techniques to interview four participants purposefully selected from the Ghanaian community in Hamilton. Phenomenology guided the analysis of the data obtained from these interviews. The results reveal the phenomenon of immigrants sponsoring their spouses to immigrate to Canada, only to be divorced due to family financial challenges and the allure of welfare support from the State. The study illustrates how the intersection of welfare, state institutions, and acculturative stress contributes to the breakdown of immigrant families in Canada, resulting in some men adopting negative coping mechanisms like substance abuse to deal with the impact. The study shows that such people refuse to seek professional mental healthcare support because of their mistrust of the healthcare system.