A 14-year-old boy has lost a court case against his parents after they moved him from London to Ghana to attend a boarding school, citing concerns over his safety.
The teenager, who had been living in the United Kingdom since birth, claimed he was misled into travelling to Ghana under the pretext of visiting a sick relative. He argued that had he known he was being sent to a boarding school, he would never have agreed. Despite his distress, the High Court ruled that his parents acted out of love and a desire to protect him, as they believed he was at risk of being involved in criminal activity in London, particularly gang culture.
The boy’s parents expressed their fears that he was heading down a dangerous path, with his school raising concerns over his behaviour and potential involvement with gangs. The teenager vehemently denied being part of a gang or engaging in criminal activities. His parents, however, pointed to the tragic stabbing of a 14-year-old in Woolwich, London, as a catalyst for their decision. They argued that sending him to Ghana was a protective measure, not a punishment. The boy, meanwhile, reported feeling isolated, misunderstood, and mistreated at the school, leading him to seek help from the British High Commission and a child protection charity in an attempt to return to the UK.
In delivering his judgment, Mr Justice Hayden acknowledged the boy’s distress but supported the parents’ decision, noting that they acted out of genuine concern for his welfare. He cited the boy’s involvement with risky behaviours and the parents’ well-founded fear of him becoming a victim of violence in London. Despite the court’s ruling, the boy’s legal representatives expressed disappointment, highlighting a growing trend of teenagers seeking legal protection from what they perceive as overbearing parental decisions. The case has brought attention to the challenging dynamics of parental responsibility, especially when young people are at the centre of complex safety concerns.