By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, Feb 21, GNA – Dr Michael Augustus Akagbor, a Senior Programmes Officer at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called on authorities of tertiary institutions, to prioritise safeguarding the fundamental human rights of students on their campuses.
He said protecting, respecting and promoting the rights of students on campus helped to promote the culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, and ensures that students felt valued and supported, regardless of their background, identity or ability.
Dr Akagbor made the call in a presentation at a workshop on protecting and promoting the rights of students on various tertiary institutions across the country.
He explained that students had the right to express their opinion, engage in academic discussions, and to pursue research interests, without any undue restrictions or censorship.
The workshop was organised by CDD-Ghana, a Civil Society Organisation and attended by representatives of Students’ Representative Council, Dean of students, Counselors and administrators from some selected tertiary institutions in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Savannah Regions.
The workshop formed part of efforts by CDD-Ghana to ensure that the rights of students and other minority groups at the tertiary institutions are protected, following a reported incident at the University of Ghana, where a student was attacked for allegedly belonging to the LGBTQ+ community.
Similar engagements have hitherto been organised for the Ghana Police Service, the clergy and media across the country.
The workshop was characterised by interactive engagement sessions on emerging human rights issues, diversity and inclusivity, the rights of students, academic freedom of students, evolving norms of teaching, research, and minority of students at the tertiary institutions.
Mr William Nyarko, the Executive Director of the African Centre for International Law and Accountability, underscored need for the Universities and other Colleges to abide by the Acts that set up their operations, adding that these Acts frowned on discrimination and abuse of the rights of students on campus.
Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, a lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law and Executive Director of Africa Coalition for Academic Freedom, said the right to fair and impartial
professional appraisal of students and acknowledgement of their scholarly works as enshrined in the institutions Acts, must be enforced.
He said, “Students must be protected against improper evaluation and their views on the development of the content of the curricular must be considered”.
Madam Latifa Akilu Mohammed, the Vice Principal of the Kpembe Nurses Training College in the Savannah Region, commended CDD-Ghana for the workshop.
She said the workshop had been a game changer towards improving the expertise and commitment to students rights and wellbeing thereby, promoting inclusivity and respect for all the tertiary education spaces across the country.
GNA