A 14-year-old boy has lost a court case against his parents after they moved him from London to Ghana for boarding school. The High Court in London ruled in favour of the parents, who argued that their decision was made out of love and concern for his safety.
The boy, described in court as shy, articulate, a keen cook, and a footballer, claimed that his parents tricked him into the move by telling him they were visiting a sick relative. “Had I known I was being sent to boarding school, there would have been no way I would have agreed to it,” he said.
In a written statement to the court, he expressed his distress: “I feel like I am living in hell. I really do not think I deserve this and I want to come home, back to England, as soon as possible.”
However, the court heard that his parents feared he was being “groomed” into criminal activity in London. Justice Hayden, in his ruling, acknowledged the difficult nature of the case but concluded that the parents’ decision was “driven by their deep, obvious, and unconditional love.” He determined that returning to the UK posed a greater risk to the boy’s well-being.
The father defended their actions, saying, “We did not want our son to be yet another black teenager stabbed to death in the streets of London.” The court was told that the parents had legitimate concerns about their son’s behaviour, which allegedly showed signs of gang involvement. Their fears were supported by his school, which reported suspicions of criminal activities and noted his possession of expensive clothing and multiple mobile phones.
The boy, however, denied any gang affiliations. “I have never been part of a gang, nor involved in gangs in any way,” he stated. “I do not know anyone involved in a gang and I do not carry a knife.” While he acknowledged that “my behaviour wasn’t the best,” he believed that was the reason his parents sent him to Ghana.
Despite the court ruling, the boy remained unhappy in his new environment. He described feeling “mocked” and struggling to adjust, saying, “I could also barely understand what was going on and I would get into fights.”
In desperation, he reached out to the British High Commission in Accra and the charity Children and Family Across Borders, which connected him with legal representation.
Education was a key issue in the case. The boy argued that his academic progress had suffered, writing, “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 claimed that Ghanaian classes were not as challenging as those in the UK and that he had been out of formal education since last summer, relying on online studies.
His mother defended the decision, insisting, “Sending him to Africa was not a punishment but a measure to protect him.” She cited the murder of Kelyan Bokassa, a 14-year-old boy stabbed to death in Woolwich, as an example of the dangers young people face in London. “That was every parent’s worst nightmare,” she said, adding, “I did not believe my son would survive in the UK and did not want to be part of his destruction.”
In court, the father mentioned a recent visit to Ghana, during which he and his son had bonded. He proposed enrolling the boy in a different boarding school, saying they both “were very impressed.” Under questioning from the boy’s lawyer, Deirdre Fottrell KC, he admitted that no place was available until September and that his son had not expressed a desire to attend.
Following the judgement, the parents issued a statement: “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, from the International Family Law Group, which represented the boy, noted a rise in similar cases where teenagers seek to return to the UK after being sent abroad 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 emphasised that many parents, fearing their children are “falling in with the wrong crowd or adopting unorthodox or challenging behaviours,” believe such drastic measures are necessary.
(BBC)
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