Reported Case: Five members of Chambers appear in Re S (Wardship: Removal to Ghana rehearing) [2025] EWHC 2836 (Fam)

Last week, Mrs Justice Theis DBE handed down judgment in Re S (Wardship: Removal to Ghana rehearing) [2025] EWHC 2836 (Fam) in which 5 members of chambers appeared.

Deirdre Fottrell KC and Andrew Powell represented the young person S, instructed by James Netto of The International Family Law Group.

Rebecca Foulkes and Charlotte Baker represented the father, instructed by Forum Shah of Dawson Cornwell (all acting pro bono).

Michael Gration KC represented the mother, instructed by Hannah Perry of Goodman Ray Solicitors (all acting pro bono).

The case concerned a 14-year-old,  ‘S’, born in the UK. In March 2024, he was taken to the Republic of Ghana by his parents. The parents and S each held both Ghanaian and British nationality. In September 2024, S applied through his solicitor, to make himself a ward of the High Court and for an order that he be returned to the jurisdiction of England and Wales. His application was refused in February 2025; however, S successfully appealed the decision in June 2025, and the matter was remitted for a rehearing.

At the rehearing before Theis J last month, the court concluded: “In considering the holistic welfare balance between the two realistic options I have reached the conclusion that S should remain living in Ghana with the aim of setting out a road map and taking the necessary steps for S to return here after completing his GCSEs”.

Read the judgment here.

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