State Transport Corporation CEO, Nana Akomea, has cast fears over the High Court ruling that some Rastafarian students should be admitted into the Achimota school.
The students, who were initially refused enrollment for refusing to shave their dreadlocks, sued the school praying the Human Rights Division of the High Court to “declare that the failure and or refusal of the 1st Respondent (Achimota School Board of Governors) to admit or enroll the Applicant on the basis of his Rastafarian religious inclination, beliefs and culture characterized by his keeping of Rasta, is a violation of his fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed under the 1992 constitution''.
They also asked the court for an "order directed at [Achimota School] to immediately admit or enroll the applicant to continue with his education unhindered''.
The court, after hearing the case, ruled that Achimota School must admit the students with their dreadlocks.
But Nana Akomea has opposed the court ruling saying the verdict has opened the floodgates for students to flout the rules of their schools.
He feared a bad precedent might have been set by the court explaining the court order is giving opportunity for students to wear or behave anyhow they want to, particularly when it goes against the school rules and regulations.
"The regulations are important to ensure that we exercise our rights without any conflict. Today, we say if you have dreadlocks, it doesn't affect your academic work. If you wear trousers or shorts, does it affect your academic work? If I'm a boy and I go to Achimota school but decides to wear skirt, does it affect my academic work?'', he queried.
He added, "If you say it's your religion, everybody can say I won't obey the rules because it's my religion. I can say I'm a Form Three student and I want to wear trousers because it's my religion . . . today, it's hair, tomorrow it will be hat or uniform. Tomorrow, someone will say I won't wear shoes because my religion doesn't permit me to wear shoes. Yeah, open the floodgate! . . . This is the problem we're faced with. That is why I think this matter should really be appealed.''
Nana Akomea called on the Achimota school to appeal the case and hoped the Court of Appeal will overturn the High Court decision.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Achimota, dont ever allow the rasta children to enter your school. ***barred word*** ruling by the so called court. Decency must be ensured in our schools.Here is Africa or Ghana not Europe.if you think Europe is allowing rastas in their schools,then allow gays freedom to operate. If YOU want to attend Achimota, then cut off your dreadlocks.you are not decent.God is Holy And Decent.Where is your so called church or religion. N K W A S E A S E M N K O A A
Your argument is different from what Nana is saying.Racism is different from the Achimota issue.The rastas hair is not natural.they were not born with it but rather grew it.that is not decency.God is Holy And decent.their hair is not decent atall.i think the school authorities must allow the children to enter their campus. the law court cant do foko.Muslims hair and their style of dressing is decent and pleasing.Yes during Abrahams era,that was how Jehovah servants used to dressed.Kofi nkrabea or so,if you take a careful look at the boys lips,you will realise that he has already started smoking wee. if the authorities backs them,wee smoking in our schools will increase.they should sit down and dream of Achimota.before they realise their colleques has completed their course.***barred word*** nkoaaaa.then why not allow gays and lesbians their freedom
Dear People, Nana Akomea is right and I disagree with the court. So then, allow the girlfriend of my 18year Old son to visit him at boarding school as he has that human right and freedom of Association. Pls we have morals and decency as the laws cannot define religion as we speak and write. Then I will take my girl child to salon to perm her her whilst in school and my son paint the hair yellow. This issue is not about these two boys people. Pakow,Cape Coast
Nana Akomea really! I am surprised at your reasoning. Have considered the other side of the coin, when based on the color of your skin a school refuses to admit a student. This is exactly what happened in the US that most people call racism. We all have to be tolerant.