The son of former parents must stay in Ghana Boarding School, the Judge rules

A 14-year-old British boy who took his parents to court after they sent him to school in Africa must stay there until at least the end of his GCSEs, a high court judge has ruled.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was flown to Ghana in March 2024 after being told he was visiting a sick relative.

In fact, his parents wanted him to move there after they became concerned about his behavior in London, which included missing school, receiving unexplained money and carrying a knife, court documents said. The boy denies being part of a gang or carrying a weapon.

The judge ruled on Monday that the boy should continue in Ghana and prepare to return after completing the GCSES equivalent.

After saying he was unhappy and homesick in Ghana, the boy got publicly funded lawyers and brought his parents to court in London, in February.

He lost his first bid to return when a High Court judge ruled he risked too much harm to be extradited to the UK.

Then in June he found a court of suspicion to find a case after the most senior judge in family separation, Sir Andrew Mcfarlane, said there was confusion in the previous decision.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court handed down its judgment, which overruled the boy’s wishes, revealing continued disruption, including in his school work and in his family life.

Judge Mrs. Justice Theis said: “I know for sure that the end I have come to is unacceptable [his] Wishes and how that will make him feel…

“[He] He has the talent, ability and wisdom to do this job with his family. It will be difficult but they all have a common goal of [him] to return to live with his family. “

The boy, who is about 15 and has British and Ghanaian citizenship, lives at school in Ghana and is studying for his GCSEs.

He previously told the court he was “living in hell” and was ‘desperate’ to return to the UK.

He described feeling like a “stranger” in Ghana and “abandoned” by his family. He does not speak Twi and said he has struggled to make friends and feels socially anxious.

The boy “welcomes” the judge’s decision to set a clear path for his return to the UK, said his lawyer, James Netto, of the international group.

Mr Netto described the case as “very serious … on every level”.

He said the boy never wanted to be in a situation where he was ‘forced’ to bring court cases to his parents, but their actions “left him speechless”.

“His position remains unchanged: He wants to return home,” said Mr. Netto.

The boy’s mother said she would not be able to look after him if he returned to the UK before his GCSEs were over.

He said: “It’s really hard to be away from him … I was afraid and continue to be afraid if he were to come back now, that he would end up dead.”

Delivering his judgement, Mr Justice Theice explained that the boy should ‘remain in Ghana for the purpose of setting a road map and taking the necessary steps for [him] coming back here after finishing his GCSEs”.

He added: “That will need to be reviewed in the near future.”

The “road map” includes participation in family therapy sponsored by the local authority.