A 14-year-old boy who took legal action against his parents for leaving him in a boarding school in Ghana has lost his case, with a UK judge ruling that he should remain there.
The teenager, whose name remains undisclosed for legal reasons, argued that his parents had “physically and emotionally abandoned” him, misleading him into traveling to Ghana under the pretense of visiting a sick relative. He later reached out to the British Consulate and a child welfare organization, claiming he was receiving poor education, inadequate food, and mistreatment at the school.
His parents defended their decision, stating that they feared he was becoming involved in gang activities in London. They pointed to his history of poor school attendance, behavioral issues, and social worker reports indicating he was at risk of being groomed for criminal activity. The court also heard allegations of phone theft and concerning messages on Snapchat.
Despite the boy’s legal challenge and the acknowledgment that his home is in London, Mr Justice Hayden ruled that returning him to the UK posed a greater risk than keeping him in Ghana. The judge described the ruling as “sobering and rather depressing” but concluded that the parents’ decision fell within their rights.
Legal experts noted that the case highlights the complex balance between a child’s rights and parental authority. While the boy’s lawyers described him as “polite and articulate” with interests in football and cooking, the court prioritized concerns about his safety and potential criminal involvement in London.
His father’s legal team argued that the boy’s behavior had worsened before he was sent abroad, with social workers reporting his frequent lateness to school, late nights out, and possession of expensive clothing and multiple phones. His school had also raised suspicions of possible criminal involvement.
With this ruling, the teenager will remain in Ghana, marking a significant legal precedent in cases where parents take drastic measures to protect their children from negative influences.