Sex for grade saga: UG students disappointed at BBC, expected more erotic scenes

Some students of the University of Ghana have expressed “total” disappointment at BBC for conducting what they have described as a poor investigative piece to depict an actual situation that happens in many universities in the country.

The sex-for-grade practice as exposed in a feature by BBC’s Africa Eye had two of the university’s profound lecturers implicated, a Political Science lecturer, Prof. Ransford Gyampo and a lecturer at the College of Education, Dr. Paul Kwame Bukator.

In their view, the BBC should have based their documentary on concrete evidence and more scenes to depict the criminal nature of the sexual abuse to substantiate the documentary.

Both of these lecturers were allegedly involved in inappropriate sexual interactions with a reporter who posed as a prospective Postgraduate student.

The documentary was commissioned in response to allegations of sexual harassment by lecturers that have hovered over tertiary institutions.

However, students of the university, commenting on the issue, highlighted that there were no elements of coercion or indication of “sex for grades” as the documentary was projected to have captured.

To further buttress their point, they suggested the need for a more extensive documentary from the likes of; Investigative journalist Anas and many others, adding, they have what it takes to provide enough material evidence to “fish out” these lecturers influencing students’ grading.

“I was actually surprised at what I saw. I was thinking since maybe it's saying sex for grades, in the videos, we will be seeing some actual sexual scenes but what came out was just a normal talk between them”. One said.

“The BBC was not able to bring out much. I think the Anas group can also do something better.” another said.

“I can say boldly that they didn’t do a good job because from the video they brought out does not match its title.” Another student said.



Meanwhile, both the University of Ghana lecturers have denied such allegations made against them, with Prof Gyampo threatening to sue the BBC for defamation.