Sex for Grade: Female UG Alumni Urge International Donors to Withdraw Support
A group of female alumni from the University of Ghana (UG) has written to seven international donors of the university, requesting that they withdraw their support from the institution.
The Association of Former Female UG Students/Alumni addressed its letter to the World Bank, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union (EU), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), National Institutes of Health (NIH) & CDC, Wellcome Trust and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
It cited the 2019 BBC Africa Eye documentary titled “Sex for Grades”, which allegedly exposed a systemic culture of sexual harassment at the University of Ghana, capturing Prof. Ransford Gyampo making numerous sexually suggestive comments to an undercover journalist posing as a student and explicitly proposing marriage in exchange for academic mentorship, a classic case of quid pro quo harassment and abuse of power.
It noted that despite the video evidence and the subsequent suspension, Gyampo had been reinstated and promoted to the rank of full Professor.
“By retaining and promoting Prof. Gyampo, the University of Ghana has failed to protect its female student population, thereby creating a hostile learning environment. This failure makes the University non-compliant with the ethical codes of conduct required by international donors.”
It also stated that the donors’ continued funding of the institution constitutes a breach of their internal policies.
“By continuing to finance the University of Ghana while Prof. Gyampo remains in post, you are inadvertently funding the very power structures that oppress female students. We urge you to stand on the right side of history, uphold your own policies, and protect the dignity of the Ghanaian woman.”
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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