Wutah Kobby, a veteran musician, has shared his thoughts on the recent controversy surrounding Senior High School students wearing dreadlocks.
The news that a boy was almost denied admission to Achimota SHS because of his hairstyle went viral last week, but he is now part of their National Science and Maths Quiz team.
In an interview on Property FM in Cape Coast, Wutah Kobby expressed his surprise at the initial decision and praised the boy for his achievements. He also called on other schools with strict rules to reconsider their policies.
“This should be an eye opener for the other schools that think they have stringent rules which are unchangeable to reconsider some of these things.”
The singer emphasized that people should be judged based on their actions, not their appearance and that stigmatization based on looks has been a problem for too long.
“Doing wrong is not based on looks but rather an attitude that any ordinary person can do so it’s about time people should observe before concluding.”
He urged people to observe and make informed decisions about those they associate with, rather than making quick judgments based on someone’s hairstyle.
“Make a final conclusion about people you want to associate with, not a quick conclusion by the looks of that person having dreadlocks,” he concluded.
Background
In March 2021, a student with dreadlocks, Tyrone Iras Marhguy, who had gained admission to Achimota Senior High School (SHS) in Ghana, was denied entry into the school because of his hairstyle. The school argued that Tyrone’s hairstyles defied the school’s rules and regulations. This sparked a nationwide debate on the rights of students to express their identity in schools.
The parents of the student decided to take legal action against the school, citing discrimination and violation of their child’s rights. The case was heard by the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court, which ruled in favour of the student, stating that the school’s actions were a violation of the fundamental human rights of the student.
Source: Oyerepafmonilne.com
