The Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina in the Greater Accra Region, Mr. Francis Xavier-Sosu has lauded the lawsuit filed by parents of Tyron Marhguy against the Achimota School over the dreadlocks-induced denial of admission saga.
The school had denied Tyron Marhguy and Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea addimission for refusing to cut off their dreadlocks.
Though the Ghana Education Service initially directed Achimota School to admit the students, it backtracked after pushback from the school’s stakeholders.
Parents of Marhguy subsequently went to court over the issue citing discrimination.
“…There is no lawful basis for [Achimota School] to interfere with the applicant’s right to education based on his rasta through which he manifests or expresses his constitutionally guaranteed right to religion and to practice and manifest same,” the family argued in the lawsuit.
They also want “an order directed at [Achimota School] to immediately admit or enroll the applicant to continue with his education unhindered.”
In addition, they want compensation for the “inconvenience, embarrassment, waste of time, and violation of his fundamental human rights and freedoms”.
Sharing his view on the latest development, a human rights lawyer, Xavier-Sosu, in a Citi News interview said the court will bring clarity on the issue.
According to him, this will also ensure the rights of the children are protected.
“I have been very worried about Achimota School’s position on this matter and I think the position has also been articulated in Parliament, and it is indeed welcoming news that Child Right International is in court to ensure the right of these little children will be protected and also to bring clarity in our laws in respect of freedom of religion when it comes to matter like this.”
