Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu has disclosed that the university cannot publish the names of university members who are alleged to be involved in sexual harassment and its related offences yet.
He explains that such a move could have legal implications.
“As to whether we will publish the names or not, at least ever since I got into office or not, two lectures have been dismissed. We’ve not published the names because there’s a difference in the policy as in sexual harassment and misconduct. Sexual misconduct policy does not allow us to publish the names and we have not had a clear case of sexual harassment. So for sexual misconduct you can prescribe whatever form of punishment. We need to seek legal interpretation and revise the policy. If we are advised rightly and we revise the policy, then of course we have to publish the names” – the Vice Chancellor stated.
Prof. Oduro Owusu however reaffirmed the University’s zero-tolerance for sexual harassment and misconduct, saying the University will take action against anyone who is found guilty of committing such acts.
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“What I have said is that if you’ve been implicated in a sexual misconduct, what it means it that you are a danger to our student, you cannot keep interacting with our students, so please leave and they leave” – he added.
The Vice Chancellor also urged students and members of the university community to be bold in reporting cases of sexual harassment and misconduct.
He mentioned that the University is very prepared to prosecute matters of sexual harassment to the most logical conclusion.
“If you have been in such a situation, come and report. I am assuring you that we will make sure they are investigated and if the perpetrators are found guilty, we will deal with them appropriately”
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Friday’s open forum comes in earnest to address the growing concerns of sexual harassment and misconduct among members of the University community.
Also, in attendance were the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic & Student Affairs (ASA), Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Pro-Vice-Chancellor in charge of Research Innovation and Development (ORID), Professor Francis Dodoo, some representatives of the University’s Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee, representatives from the Legon Chapter of the Graduate Students Association of Ghana as well as representatives from the Students Representative Council.
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