A young boy who was denied his right to education by his mother and her church has finally been admitted to the prestigious Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (Presec Legon) in Accra.

The boy, identified as Evans, was a top performer at his junior high school (JHS) in Tema, a city in the Greater Accra region. He had gained admission to Presec Legon, one of the best schools in the country, but his mother refused to allow him to attend school due to her religious belief that opposed his need for further formal education.

Evans' mother, according to sources, had recently joined the God's Kingdom at Last church, whose tenets seem to have strong reservations on formal education. She had therefore reportedly relocated from Egypt to Ghana to ensure that her son did not defy her faith by going to senior high school (SHS), even after his impressive academic achievements.

Despite two weeks of relentless persuasion by Evans' teachers, school officials, and Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, the mother remained steadfast in her refusal. Mr. Asare expressed his concerns on Facebook, acknowledging the potential need for legal action if persuasion failed.

"Its been two weeks of persuasion. Let's hope it works," Mr. Kofi Asare in a Facebook post in December 2023.

Mr. Kofi Asare said he had been unable to contact the church leader directly to intercede on Evans' behalf, as calls and messages to the mother went unanswered or resulted in being blocked.

"Compulsion through the law courts should be the last option. It can take forever to litigate on matters like this, as we want the boy in school early January, yet have no idea where he is being kept," said Mr. Asare, indicating legal action may be necessary if other attempts at persuasion failed.

Ghana Education Service had been asked to hold Evans' placement at Presec Legon in the hopes he could still take up his spot in January 2024.

Update

The Independent Ghana has learned from a credible source that the young boy has finally been admitted to Presec Legon in Accra.

Key stakeholders, including Africa Education Watch, Social Welfare, CHRAJ, and others, intervened in the matter, ensuring the bright student could pursue his education.

Despite the mother's initial resistance and her son's compliance with her opposition, the collective efforts of concerned parties, including his JHS, prevailed. The boy's admission serves as a testament to the collaborative determination to secure his educational future.

However, apprehensions persist about Evans' well-being in his mother's care, prompting calls for him to be entrusted to a reliable relative or guardian.

The mother's reaction to the recent development remains undisclosed, given her earlier emotional stance and reported threats to his teachers.

The 16-year-old's initial agreement with his mother's stance now appears to have been influenced by confusion and overwhelming pressure. In a positive turn, he is now reportedly happy about attending school, signifying a significant shift in his perspective.

As the boy commences his educational journey at Presec Legon, the focus shifts to ensuring ongoing support and monitoring to secure his academic success.