Achimota school rejects GES directive to admit student ‘Rastafarians’

Authorities at the Achimota Senior High School have rejected an earlier directive from the Ghana Education Service (GES) to admit two student Rastafarians with dreadlocks. 

The decision was reached after an extensive meeting between the parents of the two boys, GES officials, and management of the school.

On Thursday, the school authorities denied the two students admission for keeping dreadlocks.

The school said the students should cut off their hair in order to gain admission or find another school.

The issue has since generated heated debates on social media with some questioning the blatant disregard for the country’s constitution which frowns on discriminating against children on grounds of religion or culture.

Following the outrage, GES directed the management of Achimota School to rescind its decision.

But the school insists it cannot back down on its earlier decision.

A father of one of the affected students, Ras Aswad Nkrabea said he would go to the court to seek redress over the matter.

He accused the school of infringing on his child’s right to education which is explicit in the 1992 constitution.

“The assistant director was saying that he didn’t understand why there was this big social media issue and why the media is making a brouhaha over this and that he felt that the thing has been blown out of proportion.”

“He spoke about the rules from the GES, and she spoke about the rules of the school, and eventually they said we should cut the child’s locks and I said that is totally impossible. He went on to ask the principal headmistress if she will make a compromise with the parents, and she said no.”

“I told them that, I will go to court because there is no law in this land if the school’s rules are above the constitution so let us see what the court has to say [on this],” he explained.

Meanwhile, old students of Achimota School have rallied behind their alma mater.