GhLinks Media
Maa Naa Mynes, the mother of one of the Rastafarian boys who have been denied admission to Achimota School, has revealed that her son, Oheneba Nkrabea, has been psychologically traumatized by the brouhaha surrounding his admission.
Achimota School has rejected an earlier directive by the Ghana Education Service to admit two Rastafarian students.
Headmistress of the school after a crunch meeting on Monday with the regional director of education and the GES stated that the school will not compromise on its school rules and will only admit the students if they take off their dreadlocks.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) over the weekend directed the headmistress of Achimota School to admit the two teenage students whose admissions were withdrawn due to their dreadlocks.
The directive followed an intense and sustained online protest against the decision of the Achimota school authorities.
But EIB’s Fritz Ameghashie reports that after the meeting on Monday, the Headmistress of Achimota school stated that either the parents compromise on their religious beliefs and allow their children to take off the deadlocks or the students will be refused admission to the school.
At a meeting at the GES headquarters, the GES rescinded its earlier directive and supported Achimota School’s policy that the kids can only come to school after taking off their dreadlocks.
Commenting on the development, Maa Naa Mynes told Bonohene Baffuor Awuah host of Ghana Kasa on Agoo TV/Kasapa 102.5 FM Tuesday that she’s shocked by the volte-face by the Ghana Education Service.
She said her son Nkrabea…. has been dealt a huge psychological blow by the events surrounding his admission.
“My son has become restless, he is not able to sleep and has found it very difficult to eat since the brouhaha started as he’s deeply worried. I’ve had to encourage him to take in food to keep him healthy. We’ve even visited a Psychologist at 37 Military Hospital to assess him. That’s how deep the issue is, but people are not looking at that, they are just saying that it’s just his hair he should cut it but it’s not as easy as that. My son has been asking why the school authorities are not leaving him to wear his dreadlocks and learn. He’s been wondering why someone will choose his education over his hair.”
Maa Naa Mynes who said under no circumstance will her son’s hair be shaved to enable him to gain admission added that the boy is a studious student and very calm and must not be judged negatively because he’s wearing dreadlocks.
“He’s a very calm and respectful child and so he commands respect everywhere he goes. While in basic school, his friends admired his demeanour and he was a positive influence on his peers and he takes pride in that, that when people come near him they realize he’s an amazing person and he feels proud about it so why should I cut his hair” she asked?
Maa Naa Mynes disclosed that they’ll institute legal action for the court to pronounce whether a school can deny a child education based on the child’s look.
