Sex for Grade: UG’s punishment harsh but we accept it – Gyampo, Butakor

Lawyer for the two University of Ghana lecturers who have been suspended over the BBC’s sex for grade documentary has welcomed the punishment, but with reservation.

According to Francis-Xavier Sosu, considering the other sanctions attached to the suspension, the action is too harsh.

“It is for this reason that we find the decision to be a little too harsh and the university’s communiqué as misleading,” he said in a statement.

He, however, stressed: “Our Clients have made it clear to us that as senior members of the University, they do not want to further litigate this matter in court or have a protracted dispute over the issue.”

The University of Ghana has suspended Political Science lecturer, Professor Gyampo and Dr Paul Butakor over the sex-for-grades documentary by the BBC.

A statement by the University of Ghana stated that “in line with statute 46 (2) of the University of Ghana Statutes, as amended, and regulation 15.0 of the Code of Conduct for Academic Staff of the University of Ghana, 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.