A 14-year-old boy from London has failed in his High Court battle to return home after his parents enrolled him in a Ghanaian boarding school, allegedly without his knowledge or consent. The teenager, who claimed he was tricked into traveling to Ghana under the pretense of visiting an ill relative, described his experience as “living in hell” in his emotional testimony.
“If I had known I was being sent to boarding school, there would have been no way I would have agreed to it,” the teen told the court in a written statement.
Having lived in the UK all his life, he struggled to adjust to his new environment, claiming he was mocked by peers, couldn’t understand lessons, and frequently ended up in altercations. In his desperation, the boy contacted the British High Commission in Accra and the charity Children and Families Across Borders, who connected him with legal representation.
“I am from London, England, and I want to go back home,” he pleaded in one email.
His parents mounted a robust defense, arguing their decision was motivated by fears their son was being drawn into London’s gang culture.
The father made a particularly poignant statement: “We did not want our son to be yet another Black teenager stabbed to death in the streets of London.”
The boy’s mother referenced the recent murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa on a Woolwich bus, emphasizing their actions were protective rather than punitive.
“That was every parent’s worst nightmare,” she said. “I don’t believe my son would survive in the UK, and I don’t want to be part of his destruction.”
School officials had previously raised red flags about the teenager’s behavior, noting he wore expensive clothing and carried multiple phones – potential indicators of criminal involvement. Rebecca Foulkes, representing the father, stated the boy exhibited 11 risk factors identified by the NSPCC for gang involvement.
For his part, the teenager categorically denied any gang connections: “I have never been part of a gang, nor involved in gangs in any way.
I don’t even know anyone in a gang, and I do not carry a knife.” He acknowledged his behavior “wasn’t the best” and suspected this motivated his parents’ decision.
Despite the emotional testimony, Mr. Justice Hayden ruled in favor of the parents, recognizing their actions stemmed from “deep, obvious, and unconditional love.”
He concluded that returning to London could potentially expose the boy to greater harm.
In a statement following the verdict, the parents expressed relief: “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.”
