President of the Rastafari Council, Mr. Ahoma Bosco Ocansey, has described a statement from the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NARAT) on the recent ruling of the High Court in the matter of the two rastafarian students and Achimota School as ‘unfortunate and unguarded’.
Mr. Angel Cabonu who is the President of NAGRAT in an interview on Angel 102.9FM had said that teachers would disregard the enforcement of discipline among students and allow the court to come and enforce discipline in schools.
“We don’t have to look at the Rasta alone, but have to look at hairdo holistically. If you like, you can leave your hair bushy, do Rasta or Mohican hair, jerry curls, perming, etc.
“We the teachers will not restrict anyone anymore. I will not bother myself to question students on their hairdo,” he said.
He continued: “The reason is that if someone brings such hair and says that’s her belief, who has the right to reject the claim? Because everyone has his own beliefs.
“We will teach the students, but for the discipline aspect, we don’t care anymore. Any parent who wishes to instill discipline in his ward should go to the court,” he added.
But Mr. Ocansey responding to his statement said “I don’t believe it is a collective NAGRAT decision. I think he is reacting emotionally” adding that “nobody should misconstrue the court ruling as no teacher has no right, has no power over a child.”
The Rastafarian also described the ruling as a national victory because in his words, “the constitution is working: it shows that despite anything, anybody can get justice.”
“And it is a significant thing because people in the diaspora were wondering, ‘if I bring my child to Ghana, who since childhood has had well-kept dreadlocks, is this how he will be treated?’ So it is a victory for us as a nation,” he said.
