A 14-year-old British boy who took his parents to court after they sent him to a boarding school in Ghana will have to remain there until at least the end of his GCSEs, a UK High Court has ruled.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was flown to Ghana in March 2024 under the pretext of visiting a sick relative. According to court documents, his parents had instead arranged for him to attend a boarding school there, citing growing concerns about his behaviour in London — including frequent absences from school, possession of unexplained sums of money, and carrying a knife. The boy has denied being part of a gang or ever possessing a weapon.
After expressing distress and homesickness, the boy secured publicly funded lawyers and brought a case against his parents in the High Court earlier this year, seeking permission to return to the UK. However, the court ruled that it would be in his best interests to remain in Ghana.
Judge Mrs. Justice Theis reaffirmed that decision on Tuesday, saying the boy should continue his education in Ghana until he completes his GCSE-level studies.
“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 have the common aim for him to return to live with his family.”
The boy, who holds dual British and Ghanaian citizenship, previously described life in Ghana as “living in hell,” saying he felt “like an alien” because he does not speak Twi and has struggled to make friends.
His solicitor, James Netto of the International Family Law Group, said the case had been “extremely difficult on every level,” adding that the boy had no choice but to pursue legal action against his parents.
“His position remains unchanged — he wants to return home,” Netto said.
The boy’s mother told the court she still fears for his safety if he were to return to the UK prematurely. “It is really hard to be away from him… 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,” she said.
The court’s decision includes a “road map” for the teenager’s eventual return to the UK, which will involve family therapy sessions funded by the local authority. His situation will be reviewed after his GCSEs are complete.