Admit ‘Rasta’ students Tyron Marhguy, Oheneba Nkrabea – Court tells Achimota School

The Human Right Division of the Accra High Court has ordered the Achimota School in Accra to admit Rastafarian students, Tyron Marhguy and Oheneba Nkrabea with their dreadlocks on.

The school had earlier asked the two to cut down their hair per the regulations of the school after gaining admission into the school via the computerized placement system.

The Case

The court ruled in favour of two Rastariafarian students on Monday, May 31 in a case brought before it by affected students.

Represented by Counsel James Gawuga Nkrumah, the suit was among other things to challenged the Achimota School for refusing to admit them, sought an order to compel the school to enroll them immediately and also to compensate them for the “inconvenience, embarrassment, waste of time, and violation of his fundamental human right and freedom”.

Ruling

Presiding Judge, Justice Gifty Adjei Addo in her ruling said the school should admit the students with their dreadlocks.

She noted failure to admit the students with their dread locks which was borne out of their religious right would violate their human right, right to education and dignity.

Achimota School, Rastafarian students impasse

The Achimota School in March asked the two brilliant Rastafarian students who were placed in the school by the computerized placement system under the Ghana Education Service to cut their rasta hair, a vital part of their religious practice before being admitted into the school having met all other requirement.

According to the school, the directive was part of long standing tradition to ensure uniformity among all students, religious background regardless.

The development however, caused a public uproar sparking debate across rank and file of the country.

Source: GhanaPlus.com