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

The University of Ghana has suspended two of its lecturers after completing investigations into the BBC’s Sex for Grades documentary.

Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Butakor have been handed six and four months suspension without pay respectively.

The suspensions take effect from January 1, 2020.

“In addition, Prof. Gyampo and Dr. Butakor are 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 resumption of their duties. They are also required to undergo annual assessment for a period of 5 years,” a statement from the university said.

The two allegations against the two lecturers by the UK-media giant were first investigated by a fact-finding committee set up by the university.

“The Fact-Finding Committee found evidence that they had contravened the relevant provisions on misconduct in the University of Ghana Statutes and the Code of Conduct for Academic Senior Members and recommended that the case be referred to the Disciplinary Committee for Senior Members.”

“Management has accepted the recommendations…and has informed Prof. Gyampo and Dr. Butakor accordingly,” the statement said.

Prof. Gyampo and Dr. Butakor were cited in a BBC documentary titled: “Sex for Grades, Undercover in West African Universities.”

The BBC said it targeted the two lecturers for its investigations after receiving lots of complaints about sexual misconduct about them.

In the documentary, the lecturers are seen propositioning undercover reporters who posed as students or ex-students in need of some help.

Prof. Gyampo denied the allegations of Sex for Grades and threatened to sue the BBC.

“I had criticised a political party and they felt putting sexual allegations on me was a way of shutting me up,” he said when the story first broke.

He added, “I’ve always said that the worst a politician can do is kill me but even with that, I’m not scared to die.”

Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu, a lecturer at the University of Lagos, was who was also cited in the documentary has been suspended as well.

In a statement, reacting to the documentary, the university said it was “highly embarrassed” by the allegations and pledged to do “all that is necessary” to investigate and combat the “menace” of harassment at the institution.

Source:starrfm.com