Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum says the board of the Achimota school cannot unilaterally appeal the ruling of the high court over the Rastafarian students saga.
The court had ordered that Achimota admit two Rastafarian students, Tyrone Marhguy and Oheneba Nkrabea it had earlier rejected on the basis of their Rastafarian dreadlocks.
However, hours after the court’s ruling, the School’s board in a statement said it has directed its lawyers to appeal the ruling.
Speaking on the matter on Good Evening Ghana, the education minister said the board cannot act on its own accord in appealing the ruling; adding that any such decision should be on the advise of the attorney general who represented the school.
“…Who’s the Attorney General, he acts on behalf of the government of Ghana, he’s the one that should say Minister of Education let’s sit down, where do we go from here. So nobody can preempt us.
“… Achimota School Board chill! …They should understand that they act at the behest of the Ghana Education Service under their rules and guidance and the Board is constituted by the Minister of Education. I’m waiting for the Attorney General to get the certified copy of the ruling, explain to me what the basis is and what I need to do as the Minister for Education and what the Ghana Education Service needs to do through the Director-General of Ghana Education Service.”
“The court ruled that the religious rights of the two applicants had been violated by the School Management as they sought to enforce the time-tested and well-known rules of the School. The Court further directed the School to admit the two applicants. The school Board disagrees with the ruling of the Court” excerpts of the statement said.
The two boys were refused admission because of their dreadlocks; with Achimota school insisting they cut them off before they could be admitted.
However, parents of the boys appealed the Accra High Court which later directed that Achimota Senior High School admit the Rastafarian students.
According to the court, the school’s refusal to admit Tyrone Marhguy and Oheneba Nkrabea is an infringement on their fundamental human rights and and right to education.
The presiding judge, Justice Gifty Adjei Addo granted all seven reliefs sought by the applicants except for the award of cost.
Source: GhanaFeed.com