A 14-year-old British boy who sued his parents after being sent to a Ghana boarding school will remain there until he completes his GCSEs, the High Court has ruled.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken to Ghana in March 2024 under the pretense of visiting a sick relative. Court documents revealed that his parents wanted him to stay there due to concerns about his behaviour in London, including school absences, unexplained money, and allegations of carrying a knife — which he denies.

On Monday, the High Court concluded that the boy should stay in Ghana and focus on finishing the equivalent of his GCSEs before returning to the UK.

The boy, who is nearly 15 and holds both British and Ghanaian citizenship, had told the court he felt “homesick” and “unhappy” living in Ghana. He said he struggled to adjust, describing his experience as “living in hell” and feeling “like an alien” because he doesn’t speak Twi and has found it difficult to make friends.

After securing publicly funded lawyers, the boy filed a case against his parents in February 2024, arguing for his return to the UK. However, a judge initially ruled that returning could cause him greater harm.

In June, the Court of Appeal ordered a rehearing after the head of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, noted confusion in the earlier decision. On Tuesday, Mrs Justice Theis delivered the final judgement, ruling that the boy should stay in Ghana for now.

“I am aware that this decision does not reflect his wishes,” the judge said. “However, he has the ability and intelligence to make this work with his family’s support.”

The court’s ruling emphasized stability, warning that another move could disrupt his education and family relationships.

His solicitor, James Netto of the International Family Law Group, said the boy “welcomes the roadmap for his return” and described the case as “extremely difficult on every level.” Netto added that his client “never wanted to take legal action against his parents” but “felt he had no other choice.”

The boy’s mother told the court that she could not care for him in the UK before his GCSEs ended. “It’s really hard to be away from him,” she said. “I fear he might end up dead if he returns too soon.”

Mrs Justice Theis outlined a “roadmap” for the boy’s eventual return to the UK, which includes ongoing family therapy funded by local authorities. The court will review his situation after his GCSEs to determine when he can safely return home.