British boy who sued parents must stay at Ghana boarding school, judge rules

A 14-year-old British boy who sued his parents after being sent to a boarding school in Ghana will remain there until he completes his GCSEs, a High Court judge has ruled.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was taken to Ghana in March 2024 under the pretext of visiting a sick relative. Court documents revealed his parents had arranged the move due to concerns about his behaviour in London, including repeated school absences, possession of unexplained money, and carrying a knife. The boy denied being involved in any gang activity or carrying weapons.

After expressing homesickness and dissatisfaction with life in Ghana, he obtained legal aid and took his case to the High Court in London earlier this year. His initial application to return was dismissed after a judge found that doing so would expose him to greater harm in the UK. In June, however, the Court of Appeal ordered the case to be reheard after Sir Andrew McFarlane, the most senior family judge in England and Wales, identified procedural confusion in the earlier decision.

On Tuesday, Mrs Justice Theis ruled that the boy must stay in Ghana, citing the potential disruption a return would cause to his education and family stability.

“I am acutely aware that my conclusion does not reflect his wishes and that this will be difficult for him,” the judge said. “However, he has the talent, ability, and intelligence to make this work with his family. They all share the same goal — for him to return home eventually.”

Now almost 15, the boy holds both British and Ghanaian citizenship and is continuing his studies toward GCSE-equivalent qualifications. He has described his experience in Ghana as “living in hell,” saying he feels alienated and abandoned. He told the court he struggles socially, does not speak Twi, and has found it hard to make friends.

His solicitor, James Netto of the International Family Law Group, said the boy “welcomes” the clarity the ruling provides regarding his eventual return but remains deeply unhappy about his circumstances. “This has been an extremely difficult case on every level,” Netto said. “He never wished to take legal action against his parents, but he felt he had no meaningful alternative. His position remains the same: he wants to return home.”

The boy’s mother told the court she could not care for him in the UK before he completes his GCSEs, citing ongoing fears for his safety. “It is really hard to be away from him,” she said. “But I feared — and still fear — that if he came back now, he could end up dead. I know he doesn’t see it that way.”

In her ruling, Mrs Justice Theis ordered that the boy continue living in Ghana while a “roadmap” is developed to support his eventual return. This includes family therapy funded by their local authority and a review of his situation once his GCSEs are complete.