Second Rastafarian student sues Achimota school for refusal of admission

Archive photo of the forecourt of the Achimota school administration block

The Achimota school has been sued again in the case over its decision to deny admission to a Rastafarian student last month.

The latest trial is Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea, who according to court documents is a minor, is suing his next friend, Marvin Palmer.

The lawsuit, filed in the Human Rights Division of the High Court, is directed against the Achimota School Board of Governors, the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education and the Attorney General .

He asks the court to force the Achimota school to admit him to the school to allow him to continue his studies.

The lawsuit also calls on the court to prevent the school from discriminating against him on the basis of his religion and / or belief.

Parts of his prayers read as follows: “A statement that demanding Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea, a child and follower of the Rastafarian religion and creed, to cut his hair or renounce his admission to school Achimota, a public high school, is a violation of its rights to dignity… contrary to Articles 15 and 28 (3) of the 1992 Constitution and Article 13 of the 1998 Children’s Act (Law 560) ”

“A statement that demand of Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea, child and follower of the religion and the Rastafarian creed, to cut his hair or to renounce the entrance to the Achimota school, a public high school, without giving him first the opportunity to be heard is a violation of his right to due process and natural justice. “

“An order addressed to the respondents hereby to allow Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea, child and follower of the Rastafari religion and creed, to enter Achimota school for the purpose of completing the registration formalities and begin his studies ; and an order of perpetual injunction addressed to the respondents by themselves, their agents or their assigns preventing them from further violating the rights of Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea, child and follower of the Rastafarian religion and creed.

The first lawsuit against the school’s refusal to admit Rastafarian students was brought last week by Tyron Marhguy, the other student who was refused admission, he is also seeking the same help.