Bright Philip Donkor: The Achimota Judgment – Do away with discrimination against minorities in schools

I’ve observed the issue involving the Rastafarian students, Tyron Iras Marhguy and Oheneba Nkrabea who were denied admission the Achimota School because of their dreadlocks in March.

First, was it necessary for the school to say and do what they did? I believe that every right-thinking Ghanaians will be in the cream of the crop position to answer this.

I’m glad that the Accra High Court Ruling was in favor of the Rastafarian students. Indeed, the status quo has been challenged. I applaud the teenager’s parents for not letting the issue die a premature death. They fought a good fight. This will enrich the jurisprudence of our country!

The order the High Court for the School to admit the Rastafarian students is a victory for the Right to Education. “No child shall be deprived any other person of medical treatment, education or any other social or economic benefit reason only of religious or other beliefs”. This is emphatically enshrined in Article 28 (4), 1992 Constitution.

This judgment is good and progressive. Now, the governing board, and the headmistress of Achimota School have seen their level in the context of proper application of human rights law. I am happy these two Rastafarian students have won against the School which still wants to remain in the stone age. These boys have effectively become our Rosa Parks and this judgment opens the gate for a bigger discourse that must be had.