The Human Rights Court in Accra has ordered the management of Achimota Senior High School to admit two Rastafarian students, who were rejected because of their hairstyle.
Tyrone Marhguy and Oheneba Nkrabea sued Achimota school after they were denied admission because of their dreadlocks.
The court held that the refusal of Achimota School to admit Tyrone Marhguy and Oheneba Nkrabea on grounds that they were wearing dreadlocks amounted to a breach of their fundamental human rights and their right to education.
The presiding judge, Justice Gifty Adjei Addo granted all seven reliefs sought by the applicants except for the award of cost.
Background
The impasse between the students and the school has been ongoing since March 19 during which the two students have not been able to start academic work with their colleagues.
They were placed at the school through the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) having satisfied the entry requirement by creditably passing their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Tyrone Iras Marhguy’s results were attached to the lawsuit to emphasise his academic competence.
The school had asked the parents to cut off their wards’ hair or find another school for them. Though the Ghana Education Student initially directed Achimota School to admit the students, it backtracked after pushback from the school’s stakeholders.
In defence of the school’s decision, the Achimota School PTA said its revised rules and regulations from August 2020 indicate that students must keep their hair low, simple and natural.
