An almost 15-year-old boy with joint British and Ghanaian nationality will live in a boarding facility in Ghana. This move comes on the heels of an equally encouraging High Court judgment. The boy’s parents sent him to the school, but he took legal action, seeking to return to the UK, citing feelings of social anxiety and isolation.
The boy’s plight has received significant media coverage. In court, he described his despair, telling the court that he feels as if he is “living in hell.” On social media he recounted feeling “like an alien” in Ghana and said he was “left for dead” by his family. His struggle to adapt has been compounded by the language barrier, as he does not speak Twi, one of the local languages. On top of this, it has limited his ability to form friendships which has only increased his sense of isolation and anxiety.
To find help, the boy contacted lawyers largely funded by the state in February of this year. He subsequently brought a case against his parents to the High Court in London. In June, he won a surprise bid in the Court of Appeal to have his case reheard. His solicitor, James Netto, said the boy is “encouraged” by the judge’s ruling. The ruling makes it clear that there is a path for his eventual return to the UK.
The High Court decision ordered the boy to remain in Ghana. He needs to get his General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSEs) under his belt first. As for the other boy, he will continue to be able to attend the boarding school. He will get ready for these exams.
The boy’s mother raised her concerns about the harm the boy might face if he was forced back to the UK before finishing his studies. She stated, “It is really hard to be away from him… I feared and continue to fear if he were to come back now, that he could end up dead.” Her nervousness not only illustrates the intricacies of their familial arrangement, but her need to protect her son.
Although the young man does continue to pursue higher education, his sense of loneliness lingers. He just has a hard time adjusting to where he is now. He is deeply motivated to go back to the UK, where he feels like he’d be able to develop a social network and live in a more comfortable environment with familiar surroundings.
The ruling has drawn mixed reactions. Advocates say that’s on purpose—that it narrowly zeroes in only on this boy’s education and future opportunities. In the meantime, critics say it overlooks his emotional health and social development. In taking this approach, the court’s ruling achieves an appropriate middle ground. It aims to cultivate academic achievement while meeting the immediate emotional needs of the teen.
He has since resumed his studies in Ghana and is no less committed. The child clings to the possibility of one day being able to go back to the UK, to join friends and family. His story represents what most youth experience when forced to live in two worlds. Most importantly, it highlights the key role a nurturing environment plays throughout their formative developmental years.
