Godsent Ogbebor
Teen Sues Parents: Court Rules British Teen Must Remain in Ghana Until GCSEs Are Completed
A 14-year-old British boy who sued his parents for sending him to boarding school in Ghana has been ordered by a High Court in London to remain there until he completes his GCSEs.
The boy, who holds dual British and Ghanaian citizenship, was taken to Ghana in March 2024 under the impression that he was visiting a sick relative.
Court documents later revealed that his parents had actually arranged for him to stay in the West African country due to concerns about his behaviour in London, including skipping classes, holding unexplained money, and allegedly carrying a knife; unfortunately he denies the claims.
After months in Ghana, the boy said he was unhappy and homesick. He described his experience as “living in hell” and claimed he felt abandoned, isolated, and unable to connect with his peers because he could not speak the local language, Twi.
Through publicly funded lawyers, he filed a case against his parents earlier this year, asking the court to compel them to bring him back to the United Kingdom.
He initially lost his case when a High Court judge ruled that returning to London could expose him to greater risks. However, in June, the Court of Appeal ordered a rehearing after identifying confusion in the earlier judgment.
Read also: Nigeria Faults U.S. Deportation of Citizens to Ghana
In the new ruling delivered on Tuesday, Mrs Justice Theis decided that the boy should remain in Ghana to complete his education. The judge acknowledged that the decision did not align with the boy’s wishes but said it was in his best interest.
“I am acutely aware that the conclusion I have reached does not accord with his wishes,” she 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 home in due time.”
The court advised that a “roadmap” be set for his eventual return after completing his GCSEs. The plan includes family therapy sessions to be funded by the local authority.
The boy’s solicitor, James Netto, described the case as “extremely difficult on every level,” noting that his client never wished to take legal action against his own parents but felt he had no other choice. “His position remains unchanged: he wants to return home,” Netto said.
The boy’s mother told the court she feared her son might fall into serious trouble if he returned to the UK prematurely. “It is really hard to be away from him,” she said, “but I fear that if he came back now, he could end up dead. I know he does not see it like that.”
Justice Theis added that the boy’s situation would be reviewed closer to the time of his expected return.
