By Mabinty M. Kamara
Two lecturers of the University of Ghana who were disgraced in the BBC undercover documentary have been suspended without pay for what the university describes as misconduct.
Professor Ransford Gyampo was handed four months and Dr. Paul Butakor got six months of suspension. The university announced the decision in a press statement on Monday.
The decision is “in line with, statute 46(2) of the university of Ghana Statutes, as amended and regulation 15.0 of the code of conduct for Academic Staff of the University of Ghana.”
The release adds: “A fact-finding Committee Chaired by Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo, a retired Supreme Court Judge, had investigated allegations of misconduct against Professor Gyampo and Dr. Butarkor following the Broadcast of the BBC documentary titled: ‘Sex for Grades undercover in West African Universities’”.
The film, which was released in October last year, showed both lecturers apparently demanding sexual favors in return for admission from girls who posed in the film as female students.
The film provoked a serious debate on the abuse of power and sexual harassment within academic institutions in Ghana and other countries on the continent.
In addition to the suspension both men will also get training on the university’s sexual harassment policy. Their behaviors will also be evaluated over a long period.
“Professor Gyampo and Dr. Butakor are required to undergo appropriate training on the University of Ghana’s Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy as well as the Code of Conducts for Academic Staff of the University of Ghana with positive assessment from the training before resuming their duties and are also required to be assessed annually for a period of five years,” the statement from the university said.
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