SexforGrades: Ghanaian Lecturers Cleared Of Misconduct

Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor, who are both lecturers of the University of Ghana (UG), have been cleared of any sexual misconduct after the university’s investigations came to an end.

The lecturers were accused of sexual misconduct after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary was aired in October, 2019.

According to the fact-finding committee that conducted the investigation: “The committee finds that on the totality of the evidence before it, there is a huge variance between the import of the title: ‘Sex for grades’, and the content of the actual secret video recording of the affected lecturers of the University of Ghana.

The committee notes that neither the documentary nor the BBC has provided any evidence to demonstrate that the affected lecturers demanded sex in exchange for grades, as asserted by the title of the documentary: ‘Sex for grades’.”

The statement added, “Consequently, the committee notes that in the absence of any evidence that Zara and Abigail are students or members of the University of Ghana, the provisions of paragraphs 10.1, 12.1 and 12.4 of the Code of Conduct for Senior Members of the University of Ghana and the Anti-Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy of the university cannot be triggered against the affected lecturers.”

Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr Paul Kwame Butakor were however found guilty of engaging in acts that caused embarrassment to the university. The committee advised the university authorities to refer them to the university’s disciplinary committee for appropriate action.