Oheneba Nkrabea, one of the two dreadlocked boys denied admission to Achimota School, was finally admitted on Thursday, June 3, 2021.
It follows an Accra High Court ruling ordering the school’s administration to allow the students to enrol.
Citi News’ visit to the school on Thursday, June 3, 2021, confirmed that the student had arrived and completed the admissions process.
The boy’s parents arrived at school early this morning and handed in the completed admission forms to the school officials.
Oheneba has started academic work after being assigned a class.
“The process was fantastic. He was welcomed at school. Because the teachers and other staff members were so encouraging, he is now in class. Raswad Nkrabea, Oheneba’s father, expressed his gratitude.
Maanaa Myers, Oheneba Nkrabea’s mother, expressed her delight at her son’s warm reception today.
“We passed some dorms where students were yelling and hailing us.” It was reassuring because we were nervous. Even the students are rooting for him. We were approached by the school chaplain, who requested that we go to the administration. The day students’ girls prefect also approached us there. That’s when everything changed; she came in warmly, introduced herself, and told Oheneba he was going to be her school son, making sure he felt at ease on campus.”
Also read: Achimota School reverses its decision to stop admitting rasta boys
“I just felt relieved and at ease knowing he was safe because we also met a teacher who has been protective of him since the first day because we met him today who ushered him into the classroom.” So far, I’m pleased with the warm reception we received today,” the mother said.
The student’s admission is contingent on the school’s Governing Board’s decision to appeal the High Court’s decision.
Meanwhile, the other Rastafarian boy, Tyrone Marhguy, has not yet been admitted. He will begin the admissions process tomorrow [June 4, 2021].
Students drag Achimota to court; judge rules in their favour
An Accra High Court on Monday, May 31, 2021, delivered its ruling regarding the denial of two Rastafarian boys; Marhguy, Tyrone and Oheneba Nkrabea’s admission to Achimota School because they failed to cut their dreadlocks.
Justice Gifty Adjei Addo, the presiding judge, disagreed with the submissions of the Attorney General and granted all the reliefs separately sought by the embattled students except the relief of compensation in the case of Tyrone Marhguy.
According to Justice Addo, it is preposterous for the Attorney General to have even suggested that the two were not students in the first place.
Justice Gifty Adjei Addo consequently directed Achimota School to admit the two Rastafarian students.
Following the court’s decision, Achimota School through its board announced that it will appeal the decision.
School backs down
Achimota School subsequently made efforts to secure a stay of execution order to freeze the implementation of the order, but it has now announced that it has withdrawn the decision.
The school backed down on a decision to freeze the court order, with the statement released on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, however, reiterating their commitment to an appeal against the ruling.
It said the decision comes after consultations with two stakeholders on the way forward.
“Further to our statement issued on 1st June 2021 on the subject of two Rastafarian applicants, we have been in consultation with other relevant stakeholders to seek the best ways forward, taking into account the interests of all parties,” it said.
Adding that, “while the Board remains committed to the appeal against the High Court ruling, it will withdraw the application for a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal by a higher court.”
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