British Court Rules 14-Year-Old Must Remain in Ghana Boarding School Until Completion of GCSEs

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05/11/25 • 67 Visningar • 0 Dela med sig • Publicerad i Övrig

A British High Court has ruled that a 14-year-old boy who sued his parents after being sent to a boarding school in Ghana must remain there until he completes the equivalent of his General Certificate..

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken to Ghana in March 2024 under the guise of visiting a sick relative. However, court documents later revealed that his parents had prearranged the move due to growing concerns over his behaviour in London — including truancy, unexplained money, and the alleged possession of a knife. The boy has denied any involvement in gang-related activities or carrying a weapon.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Mrs Justice Theis ruled that the teenager should continue his education in Ghana despite his desire to return to the United Kingdom.

“I am acutely aware that the conclusion I have reached does not accord with [his] wishes and how that will feel for him,” the judge said. “He has the talent, ability, and intelligence to make this work together with his family. It will be difficult, but they all share the common aim for him to return home.”

A Complex Transnational Family Case

The case began in February 2025 when the boy, feeling “unhappy and homesick,” contacted publicly funded lawyers and initiated legal proceedings against his parents. His initial claim was dismissed after the court found that a return to the UK would expose him to “greater harm.”

However, the Court of Appeal later ordered a rehearing in June 2025, after Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, found that procedural inconsistencies had affected the original ruling.

During the hearing, the boy, who holds both British and Ghanaian citizenship, told the court he felt “like an alien” in Ghana and described his experience as “living in hell.” He said he struggled to make friends, did not speak Twi, and suffered from social anxiety.

His solicitor, James Netto of the International Family Law Group, said the ruling at least provided “a road map” for his eventual return to the UK, though his client “remains determined to come home.” Netto described the proceedings as “extremely difficult on every level,” adding that the boy had not wished to take legal action against his parents but felt he had “no meaningful alternative.”

Parental Concerns and Future Plans

The boy’s mother expressed sorrow at the separation but insisted her decision was driven by fear for her son’s safety.

“It is really hard to be away from him,” she told the court. “I feared and continue to fear that if he came back now, he could end up dead. I know he doesn’t see it like that.”

Mrs Justice Theis ordered that the teenager remain in Ghana “with the aim of setting out a road map and taking the necessary steps for his return after completing his GCSEs.” She added that the situation “will need to be reviewed nearer the time.”

The road map includes continued family therapy, funded by the local authority, to support the boy’s emotional wellbeing and eventual reintegration into life in the United Kingdom.

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