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Is a government sponsored educational institution justified in denying education to students simply because they have dreadlocks? What does a student’s choice of hairstyle have to do with his or her right to pursue an education? How can dreadlocks become an issue in a country like Ghana when it represents a globally recognized cultural phenomenon with African origins? These are some of the questions that have been raised recently in an ongoing debate in Ghana that has generated considerable interest in the country and, more importantly, in communities of people of African descent in other parts of the globe.

It began when two students chose a government sponsored secondary school in Ghana and had no reason to expect any problems. As far as they were concerned, they were in good standing. Both had excelled and posted results in the final exams that qualified them for admission. They chose Achimota College, one of the best secondary schools in the country, and began the admission process. The problems began from that point on. The school authorities decided they couldn’t be given admission. Reason cited was that they both had rasta hairstyles. It didn’t conform with existing school standards.

The decision of the school made the headlines and became a hot topic on social media. Suddenly the Ghanaian students with dreadlocks denied admission in a secondary school became a major topic of discussion in the media, among government officials, politicians and the general public. Many weighed in on the issue. Some appeared to support the decision of the school in enforcing its rules and regulations, suggesting that the denial of admission to Rasta hairstyle wearing students was not wrong. To them, the school was not obliged to make an exception for the two students. If they want to be part of the student body, they have to conform. Others thought otherwise. They hold the view that the students had been wronged. The school had discriminated against them. The decision to deny the students admission for wearing what was considered by the school as the wrong hairstyle should not be used as a basis to penalize them and deny them their right to pursue an education. The school should be forced to rescind their decision and admit them.

Not surprisingly, the debate about dreadlocks took on serious cultural and political undertones when people began to comment that the incident reflected a deeper problem that had everything to do with many Ghanaians not fully appreciating the beauty of African culture. African Americans and people of African descent from the Caribbean have been quite vocal and have made the public aware of the implications of the decision and the potential damage it could do to efforts to encourage them to repatriate or travel to Africa.

They don’t understand why students wearing dreadlocks can become an issue in a country like Ghana that has become globally recognized for playing a leading role in programs and activities aimed at promoting a positive image of Africa and Africans to the world. Why will the most prestigious secondary school in the country refuse to appreciate the beauty and elegance of a hairstyle that originated from Africa to begin with? It is a paradox many can’t relate to particularly when wearing the Rasta hairstyle has become part of the everyday fashions and hairstyle on a global basis. It doesn’t make sense to end up in a court room for a judge to make the determination that students have the right to wear the Rasta hairstyle and pursue an education at the same time.

The court ruling is expected to end the controversy, but not likely to answer all the questions. More than likely, the debate will continue. People of African descent have been given reason to ask more questions. What else will they have to be concerned about that can potentially create problems for them if they decide to repatriate? Are they really welcome in Africa? One thing is for sure. The school has learned a very important lesson. They assumed that it was a simple matter to deny a student admission and cite their dreadlocks as the reason. They had been proven to have made a serious error of judgement. What else lies in the future remains unknown.