Brighton: Asylum seeker who worked for council for years is retiring

Abraham Ghebre-Ghiorghis will step down later this month after 37 years of service at councils in Brighton.

He will be leaving his role as corporate director for corporate services and monitoring officer for Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Authority.

Abraham Ghebre-Ghiorghis said Brighton welcomed him when he arrived 37 years ago (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

Abraham came to Britain from Eritrea as an asylum seeker 42 years ago and moved to Brighton after five years in the country.

He said: “I am really sad to be leaving the council after 37 wonderful years and will miss all the fantastic colleagues I had the privilege to work with.

“Forty two years ago, in 1982, I came to Britain from Eritrea as an asylum seeker. Britain gave me sanctuary and 37 years ago this lovely city welcomed me as its citizen and I made it my home.

“The same year, against all odds, the council took the risk and gave me my first job as a trainee solicitor and surrounded me with fantastic managers and colleagues who educated me and picked me up when I was down.

“I had the unique privilege of working with people who were ready to see beyond my refugee status, skin colour, unusual name or accent and see what I was able to do.

Abraham's career has taken him to Downing Street (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

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"The support, guidance, love and encouragement I received from members and officers over the years is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life."

He was with the council when it became a unitary authority in 1997 and has seen many changes.

He said: "It has always remained true to the Brighton and Hove spirit: passionate, people centred, values-driven, daring to be different and, yes, a bit quirky in that it often did things in its own way and never simply followed the herd as many others did.

“I would like to thank Bella Sankey, Jess Gibbons, my colleagues in the corporate leadership team and my directorate management team as well as the many members and officers I have had the pleasure to work with for their help, support, understanding and good wishes when I have been unwell.

"I am also grateful for the fantastic work that the Black and Minority Ethnic workers’ forum have done in supporting its members. I am sorry that I have not been able to give them as much support as I would have liked to."

Throughout his career, Abraham has always strived for race equality in the council.

Abraham Ghebre-Ghiorghis as a young man (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)  

Council Leader Bella Sankey said: “Abraham is an outstanding public servant and he has served Brighton and Hove with passion and distinction.

“His razor-sharp mind, his integrity and love of our city are unparalleled. Abraham's journey from a person seeking asylum to becoming the beating heart of our civic life represents everything our city and country should offer to those seeking sanctuary.

“We will miss Abraham greatly, but his enormous legacy and example will endure at Brighton  and Hove City Council for years to come.”