The University of Ghana Council has said management of the school is fully committed to ensuring that the school is free from all forms of sexual harassment, malpractices, and misconduct.
Delivering a speech at the second session of the congregation of the College of Humanities of the University of Ghana, Chairman of the Council, Professor Yaw Twumasi also described as satisfactory, measures taken by the management of the school to tackle sexual harassment.
“I am satisfied with the measures put in place by management of the university to interrogate the issues while encouraging all who have encountered behaviour that contradicts the sexual harassment policy to report same. University management is fully committed to ensuring that the campus is completely free of all forms of sexual harassment, malpractices and misconduct”.
The University of Ghana interdicted two of its lecturers captured in the BBC’s “Sex for Grades” documentary over their alleged sexual harassment of female students.
The two — Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor were later hauled before the University’s Anti Sexual Harassment Committee to assist with internal investigations.
Although the two denied the allegations leveled against them, pressure was mounted on the University to take decisive actions to show its commitment to dealing with the issue of sexual misconduct.
The university among other things, set up a five-member fact-finding committee to look into the matter and offer its recommendations.
The university subsequently published phone numbers and an e-mail for students to report any form of harassment.
Committee probing ‘sex for grades’ saga presents report to UG Vice-Chancellor
The committee probing the infamous “Sex for Grades” scandal at the school has already presented its report to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu.
The committee presented the report on Tuesday, November 12, 2019.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfoh, Pro-Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic and Student Affairs, at a congregation of the school of humanities on Thursday, the Vice-Chancellor said management will study the report and ensure implementation of the recommendations.
“Following the recent media reports of alleged sexual harassment cases involving some faculty members at the university, management put measures in place to enforce its sexual harassment policies. Following the broadcast, management set up a five-member fact-finding committee chaired by her ladyship retired Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo to conduct an inquiry into the matter. I am happy to inform you that the committee submitted its report to the Vice-Chancellor on Tuesday, 12th November 2019”.
“Management will, therefore, study the report and ensure implementation of the recommendations using the appropriate processes stipulated in our basic laws and policies of the University”.