14-Year-Old Who Sued Parents Ordered to Stay at Ghana Boarding School
A 14-year-old British boy who sought to return to the UK after being taken to Ghana by his parents must remain there until at least the end of his GCSEs, a High Court judge has ruled.
The teenager was told he was travelling to visit a sick relative in March 2024, but later learned his parents intended him to stay due to concerns about his behaviour in London, including unexplained absences from school and alleged gang involvement. He denies carrying a knife or having links to a gang.
Unhappy and homesick, he secured publicly funded lawyers and brought his case to the High Court, arguing he felt “like an alien” in Ghana, struggled socially, and did not speak Twi.
He described his experience as “living in hell” and said he was “desperate” to return to the UK. Although he initially lost his challenge, he went on to win permission for a rehearing in June.
On Tuesday, the court reaffirmed that he should remain in Ghana to complete the equivalent of his GCSEs, judging the risks of returning, including disruption to education and home life, to be greater.
Mrs. Justice Theis acknowledged that the ruling does not reflect the boy’s wishes, but said he can cope and that the family shares the goal of his eventual return. His mother believes that returning now could put him in danger and says she cannot currently care for him in the UK.
The judgment outlines a “road map” for his future return, including family therapy to strengthen his support system. Whether he can return after finishing his GCSEs will be reviewed closer to that time.
Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), children have the right to express their views in decisions affecting them and the right to maintain contact with family. Courts must act in the best interests of the child, balancing their safety, development, and emotional well-being when determining outcomes.
