Father of Ohenaba Kwaku Nkrabea, one of the Rastafarian students who has just been admitted into Achimota School has hinted of his plans to join the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the School.

Ras Aswad Nkrabea in an interview on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning on Thursday, June 3, said since his child has been admitted into the School, he automatically becomes a member of the Association.

The PTA of Achimota School in April released a statement declaring their support for the Management of the School when they refused to admit the dreadlocked students.

According to them, the hairstyle of the pupils; Ohenaba Nkrabea and Tyrone Marghuy was against the school’s prescribed low cut which is to promote uniformity and discipline.

In view of this, Mr Nkrabea hoped the leadership and members of the Association will warmly welcome him just as the students cheerfully received his ward.

Mr Nkrabea further stated that in his bid to see reforms in the school, he will run for a position in the PTA and have his voice heard in a more significant manner.

“If there is a position to fill to make the school better, then yes, I will not hesitate to do that,” he told host Daniel Dadzie.

Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea was today finally admitted to join his colleagues in the classroom.

This has been made possible due to a high Court Judgment and an intervention by the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame.

Now, Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea’s dream of attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology later, to further his goal to work in Silicon Valley, starts today, from Achimota School.

Although there is a legal battle still ongoing, Oheneba’s mother, Manaa Myers, told JoyNews that they were met with loud cheers by students and a warm reception by officials of the School.

Rastafarian students vs Achimota School

In March this year, Achimota School issued admission letters to the two students but indicated that they would only be enrolled on condition that they shave their dreadlocks in accordance with the School’s academic regulations.

Subsequently, on Monday, May 31, a Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Gifty Agyei Addo, ruled that the fundamental human rights of the two students cannot be limited by the rules in question.

This was after the two Rastafarian students dragged the Achimota School Board of Governors, the Minister of Education, Ghana Education Service, and the Attorney General to court for refusing to enroll them.

Justice Gifty Agyei argued that she doesn’t think the Achimota School and proponents, including GES and the Attorney General’s Department, have made a compelling argument as to why those two students should not be admitted, especially given their rights to education as well as their rights to express their religious

But the School’s Governing Board issued a statement on Tuesday, June 1, stating its disagreement with the ruling and subsequent decision to appeal the ruling. “The School disagrees with the ruling of the court. The School Board has therefore directed its Lawyers to appeal against the ruling,” the statement said.

This notwithstanding, the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame in an interview with JoyNews Wednesday, June 2, revealed that Achimota School will admit the two Rastafarian students it denied admission after being advised to withdraw its stay of execution while contesting the court’s decision.

For him, the initiative is to enforce the President’s educational policy that “if students ought to go to school, the school ought to open its doors to them” including the two Rastafarian students in question.

He added that the Pre-Tertiary Education Act mandates Ghana Education Service as the body with powers to supervise all public schools, hence Achimota School cannot fail to heed to government’s call.

Also, the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum who described as surprising, the decision of the Governing Board of Achimota School to appeal the court ruling, insisted that the school cannot unilaterally take such a decision.

“I am very surprised. He cannot take that unilateral decision. I’m waiting for a full briefing of the Attorney General who I commend for going to court, so nobody can preempt us. So, Achimota Board, chill,” he said on Accra-based Metro TV Tuesday.