Two senior lecturers of the University of Ghana who faced disciplinary action over the sex for grade scandal say they accept the punitive measures taken by the University although they believe it is too harsh.
Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Butakor were slapped with six months and four months suspension without pay, by the University of Ghana following the completion of a hearing on the matter.
The two are additionally expected to be trained on the University’s sexual misconduct policy after which they will resume their posts based on a “positive assessment”.
They will also be subjected to an annual assessment for a five year period as part of the University’s decision which took effect on January 1, 2020.
But a statement issued by lawyers of the lecturers, F-X Law & Associates, said they find the decision a little too harsh and the university’s communiqué as misleading. However, their clients accept the said decision and will respect it.
The lawyers said their clients have made it clear to them that as senior members of the University, they do not want to further litigate the matter in court or have a protracted dispute over the issue.
The lawyers in the statement said the BBC did show gross disrespect to Prof. Butakor and Prof. Gyampo by not availing themselves to be cross-examined during the University’s administrative proceedings on the matter, insisting that the disciplinary measures taken against the two lecturers do not indicate their guilt in the matter.
It adds that the statement by the University creates a lot of doubts in the minds of people and to make it clear, Prof. Gyampo and Dr. Butakor were not found guilty of sexual misconduct or sex for grades as was initially alleged by the BBC.