#Sex for grades: ‘No evidence to prove our lecturer did anything wrong’, University of Ghana reacts to BBC Africa eye documentary

The University of Ghana (UG) has finally  reacted to the BBC Africa Eye latest documentary on sex-for-grades in West African universities, saying there was no evidence of sex-for-grades in the video and transcript from the BBC’s documentary.

The University also said that it could not find a concrete evidence to prove its lecturer, Professor Gyambo Ransford, actually slept with the female student to give her better grades.

It further added that  the documentary did not provide any evidence to prove that the students were awarded marks by the lecturers.

The BBC ‘Sex for Grades’ documentary had earlier indicted two Ghanaian academicians –  a Political Science lecturer, Prof. Ransford Gyampo and a lecturer at the College of Education, Dr. Paul Kwame Bukator.

But, the Chairperson of the anti-sexual harassment committee of the University of Ghana (UG), Dr Margaret Amoakohene has refuted the allegations.

Reacting in an interview with Citi News, a Ghanaian-based media outfit, Dr  Amoakohene informed that she has watched the documentary and could not find a concrete evidence to backup claims of sexual harassment or exploitation.

“If you look at the transcript that they added, there is no evidence of sex for grade. I agree that the lecturers misbehaved and so you will discuss these as unacceptable behaviors that should be investigated but there was no indication of sex for grades.

“In one case, it was about the national service placement. Who needs grades at national service? She completed and she was looking for placement.

“In the other case according to the transcript, the lady approached him [Prof. Gyampo] and said she wanted him to be a mentor. She actually confirmed she wasn’t his student but asked that he mentors her.

“So where is the grade involved in this? You are able to discuss grades and sex when you find a lecturer who is dating his own students, and either unnecessarily giving them grades that they don’t deserve or marking them down because they have refused your advances. But in the two cases that are cited, I don’t see sex for grades”, she said.

Though, in the documentary, Professor Gyambo was filmed pestering a female student to kiss him as well as become his girlfriend. The journalist who posed as a student, had asked him to become her mentor. He accepted her request but asked her for more than she bargained.