Nkonkonsa Celebrity Gossip From Africa
The Achimota School and the Attorney-General of Ghana have gone back to court to contest the ruling of the High Court that some two Rastafarian students, Tyrone Iras Marhguy and Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea, be admitted.
The boys had sued the Achimota School Board of Governors, the Minister of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and the Attorney General for refusing to enroll them.
The school at the time had said the boys had to cut their dreadlocks, failure of which the school said was at variance with its rules and regulations.
The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Gifty Agyei Addo on May 31, however, ruled that the fundamental human rights of the two students could not be limited by the rules of the school.
The judge held the view that Achimota School and its proponents, including GES and the Attorney General, failed to justify why the two students should not be admitted.
She premised her position on the fundamental human rights guaranteed under the Constitution of Ghana, 1992, especially the boys’ rights to education and their rights to express their religious freedom.
In appealing the case, Achimota School argues that the High Court erred when it held that the rules and regulations of the school with regard to ensuring uniformity in appearance are unlawful and interfere with one’s religious rights.
In view of this, the school is urging the Appeals Court to set aside the judgment of the High Court and order the plaintiffs to comply with the school’s regulations if they choose to be students of the school.
Backing this stance, the AG’s department insists the judge erred in her ruling. The AG further goes on to argue that the decision by Achimota School does not interfere with the right to the education of the boys.
In March this year, Achimota School issued admission letters to the two students but indicated that they would only be enrolled on the condition that they shave their dreadlocks in accordance with the School’s academic regulations.
However, an Accra High Court has ordered Achimota School to admit the two Rastafarian students it denied enrollment.
The Governing Board of the Achimota School subsequently announced its decision to appeal the ruling by the Human Right Division of the Accra High Court, ordering it to admit the two Rastafarian students.
