A 14-year-old boy has lost a legal battle against his parents, who relocated him from London to Ghana for boarding school, citing concerns over his safety in the UK.
The teenager, described as shy and passionate about football and cooking, told the High Court in London that his parents had misled him about the trip, initially saying it was to visit a sick relative.
“If I had known I was being sent to school in Ghana, there’s no way I would have agreed to it,” he said in his testimony.
His parents, however, argued that they feared he was being drawn into gang activity and made the move to protect him.
“I feel like I am living in hell,” the boy told the court. “I really do not think I deserve this, and I want to come home, back to England, as soon as possible.”
Justice Hayden, who presided over the case, acknowledged the difficult situation, describing the case as both “sobering and rather depressing.” However, he ruled in favour of the parents, saying their decision was motivated by “deep, obvious, and unconditional love” for their son.
The court accepted the parents’ concerns that their son was at risk of gang influence and developing an “unhealthy interest in knives.” His father, justifying their decision, told the court, “We didn’t want our son to become yet another black teenager stabbed to death in the streets of London.”
The teenager, who was born and raised in the UK, said he struggled to adjust to life in Ghana. He claimed he was mocked by his peers, found it difficult to understand lessons, and was involved in fights.
Feeling “scared and desperate,” he contacted the British High Commission in Accra and the charity Children and Family Across Borders, who helped him connect with lawyers from the International Family Law Group.
“I am from London, England, and I want to go back home,” he wrote in a plea for help. He alleged mistreatment at his school and begged to return to his former school in the UK.
His mother told the court their decision was not a punishment but a necessary step to protect him. She cited the fatal stabbing of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa in Woolwich earlier this year as an example of the dangers facing young people in London.
The court also heard concerns from his UK school, which suspected the boy was involved in criminal activity, pointing to his possession of expensive clothes and multiple mobile phones.
Rebecca Foulkes, representing the boy’s father, argued that he exhibited 11 out of 12 warning signs of gang involvement, as outlined by the NSPCC, including absenteeism, unexplained money, and carrying weapons.
The teenager denied these claims, stating, “I do not know anyone involved in a gang,” and insisting he did not carry a knife. He admitted his behaviour “wasn’t the best” but believed that was the reason his parents sent him to Ghana.
The case centred on parental responsibility and whether the parents had acted unlawfully by moving their son without his consent. The court ultimately ruled in their favour.
Following the verdict, the parents released a statement saying, “This has been a really difficult time for us all. Our priority has always been protecting our son, and our focus now is on moving forward as a family.”
James Netto, the boy’s lawyer, described the ruling as “a real shock” to the teenager.
“He was incredibly disappointed, incredibly upset, and is considering his next steps carefully,” Netto said.
The teenager also expressed concerns about his education, arguing that the Ghanaian curriculum was less challenging. He claimed he had been out of formal schooling since last summer, relying on online studies.
“I want to have an education again and grow up like a normal person. I feel like my brain is hurt here. I feel like now I am dumber than people I used to be smarter than,” he wrote.
His father, who recently visited him in Ghana, said they had explored another boarding school for him to transfer to, but no placement was available until September.
Netto noted an increase in similar cases, where teenagers seek legal intervention to return to the UK after being relocated by their parents.
“Teenagers are often placed in exceptionally challenging or vulnerable situations and are now beginning to turn to the court for protection,” he said.
He added, “We have already received enquiries from young people in exactly the same situation as this young man.”
This story was reported by the BBC.
