British-Ghanaian Boy Wins Appeal After Parents Sent Him to Ghana Without His Consent
- The UK Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling, allowing a 14-year-old British-Ghanaian boy to return from Ghana
- Judges found that the lower court failed to fully consider the boy’s emotional distress, psychological harm, and lack of consent
- The case raised concerns about parental responsibility and children's rights under UK and international law
The UK Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision that denied a 14-year-old British-Ghanaian boy’s request to return to the UK after being abandoned in Ghana by his parents.
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The appellate court determined that the High Court had not properly considered the boy's emotional distress, psychological harm, and his right to be heard, which led to the reconsideration of the case.
British-born son sues parents over Ghana trip
YEN.com.gh understands that the child, known only as S, was taken to Ghana by his parents in March 2024, under the guise of a family visit.
Shortly thereafter, his parents returned to the UK without him, leaving him behind in the care of relatives, enrolling him in a boarding school, and withholding his passport.
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From Ghana, S reached out to solicitors in London, and with the support of a litigation friend, he initiated legal proceedings to return to the UK.
In February 2025, after a three-day hearing, Mr. Justice Hayden dismissed S’s application.
Although he acknowledged that the parents' actions were deceptive, he ruled they were within the scope of lawful parental responsibility.
According to him, S's stay in Ghana was in his best interest. He raised concerns about the young man's alleged gang involvement and school attendance issues back in the UK.
UK court overturns ruling in child's favour
The Court of Appeal found that the High Court had erroneously conflated the legality of the parents’ actions with the court's obligation to independently assess the child’s welfare.
The appeal, led by Deirdre Fottrell KC, argued that the lower court neglected alternative UK care options and let the parents’ viewpoint dominate proceedings, neglecting the child’s autonomy.
The appeal was further supported by organisations such as the International Centre for Family Law, Policy and Practice and the Association of Lawyers for Children, which advocate for children's rights.
They raised concerns about the emotional harm caused to a Gillick-competent child (one mature enough to make informed decisions) left abroad under misleading circumstances.
Sir Andrew McFarlane, delivering the lead judgment, stated that the High Court had made a mistake by concluding the case prematurely, without fully examining care alternatives in the UK.
He emphasised that the boy's unhappiness and repeated pleas to return to the UK were important elements of the case that had not been adequately addressed.
The case will now be reheard by a different judge in the Family Division, with wardship reinstated.
Serah Owusu allegedly arrested over co-tenant dispute
YEN.com.gh had earlier reported that Ghanaian TikTok star Sarah Owusu was allegedly arrested by police in Kumasi after she engaged in a dispute with a neighbour.
She shared a video of herself, almost in tears, at the police station, narrating to her followers what happened.
Netizens who saw the video were heartbroken and expressed their views in the comments section of the post.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
