The University of Ghana has suspended two lecturers Professor Ransford Gyampo and Dr Paul Butakor over the sex for grades investigative piece published by the BBC.
A statement issued by the University said the Disciplinary Committee recommended a six-month suspension without pay for Professor Gyampo and a four-month suspension without pay for Dr. Butakor. The suspensions take effect from January 1, 2020.
Prof. Gyampo and Dr. Butakor are also required to undergo appropriate training on the University of Ghana’s Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy as well as the Code of Conduct for Academic Staff of the University of Ghana.
They will be required to receive a positive assessment after the training before the resumption of their duties. They are also required to undergo an annual assessment for a period of 5 years.
Professor Gyampo, who is also the Head of European Studies at the university, according to the BBC report allegedly requested to marry one of the BBC reporters who posed as a student seeking academic favors.
In excerpts of the video Professor Gyampo persuaded the reporter to meet him at the mall where he was caught on camera making some demands.”
The two lecturers who were accused of soliciting for sexual favours to award grades to their students were earlier exonerated of any misconduct.
After months of investigations the university’s fact-finding committee cleared the two lecturers of asking for sex to award grades.
The committee that carried out the investigation however found the two lecturers culpable of conducting themselves in a manner that caused embarrassment to the university
The University’s Code of Conduct for Academic Staff of the University of Ghana stipulates states that “Academic staff shall refrain from any type of harassment or discrimination against students and shall adhere to the Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy of the university.”
The code also says: “Academic staff are prohibited from engaging in sexual or amorous behaviour with students,” while Paragraph 12. 4 says: “Academic staff are bound by the Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy of the university.”
Source: Africafeeds.com
