NAGRAT President Angel Carbonu (left) and Lawyer for Rastafarian students, Ras Tetteh Wayo (right)
The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has said that the ruling by an Accra High Court ordering Achimota School to enrol the two Rastafarian students will encourage other students to wear all manner of hair styles.
“My worry is to obey the ruling of the court to the extent that it takes. Someone has Rasta, another has Mohican, another person will have Afro. Are they not hairdos? Why should we discriminate? Someone wants to wear trouser, another wants to wear shorts, are they all not pants?
Speaking to the recent development on Joy FM‘s Top Story with Evans Mensah, Mr Carbonu explained that the ruling will grant various individuals the opportunity to hold their religious activities superior to the school rules which are meant to foster teaching and learning.
Achimota School in March this year issued admission letters to two students; Tyron Iras Marhguy and Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea but indicated that they would only be enrolled after they shave their dreadlocks in accordance with the School’s academic regulations.
However, the High Court on Monday, May 31, presided by Justice Gifty Addo ruled in response to the petition by the students, that Achimota School should enrol them since its refusal to do so, breaches the human rights laws of Ghana.
“Who determines religion, if I decide to be a Mohican religious person, who will determine that for me. If it is my religion to shave my hair to the scalp, who determines that for me. If it is my religion to wear Jerry curls, who decides that for me?” Mr Carbonu quizzed.
He noted that the exemption made should not just be limited to Rastafarian students but to all who believe being asked to trim their…