Rasta student sues Achimota school, demands to be admitted and compensated

admin April 1, 2021

0 137 1 minute read

The family of a student denied admission at the Achimota School because of his dreadlocks has sued the institution at a high court citing discrimination.

In the suit, the student, Tyrone Iras Marhguy, maintains that his rights are being violated by the school’s actions.

They want a declaration that denying the student, Tyrone Iras Marhguy, admission because he keeps dreadlocks is “a violation of his right to education guaranteed under Articles 25(1)(b), 28(4) of the 1992 Constitution.”

The family also argued that the denial of admission is a “violation of his [Tyrone Iras Marhguy’s] right to dignity”.

“…There is no lawful basis for [Achimota School] to interfere with the applicant’s right to education based on his rasta through which he manifests or expresses his constitutionally guaranteed right to religion and to practice and manifest same,” the family argued in the lawsuit.

They want “an order directed at [Achimota School] to immediately admit or enrol the applicant to continue with his education unhindered.”

In addition, they want compensation for the “inconvenience, embarrassment, waste of time, and violation of his fundamental human rights and freedoms”.

Tyrone Iras Marhguy was denied admission at the school alongside another Rastafarian student, Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea.

The saga 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 and further engagements.

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.