Sunyani Technical University refutes sex-for-grades claim, describes allegation as baseless

Management of Sunyani Technical University (STU) has strongly denied allegations of a sex-for-grades scandal involving some of its lecturers, labeling these accusations as unfounded and without merit.

The controversy began when a former SRC President, Mr. Owusu Agyekum, made public claims against the institution’s faculty members, prompting the university to launch a detailed investigation into these serious allegations.

In a formal statement, Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, the Vice Chancellor of STU, relayed the outcomes of the investigative process.

“Management wishes to state unequivocally that after thorough investigations into the recently alleged sex-for-grades claim by Mr. Owusu Agyekum, not a speck of evidence or proof could be found to back his allegations,” he noted.

The university then called on Mr. Agyekum to retract his statements and issue an apology, highlighting the damage such claims have done to the university’s reputation.

The investigation into the allegations was exhaustive. Instituted on February 14, 2024, after Mr. Agyekum’s initial claims made on February 11 via a TikTok video, the university management set up a seven-member committee led by Mr. Peter Duayah, the Bono Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare.

The committee was tasked with a full and impartial examination of the accusations, adhering to the university’s staunch zero-tolerance stance on sexual misconduct.

Over the course of the investigation, the committee used an interactive approach to gather information and attempted to engage with Mr. Agyekum through a Zoom call, owing to his commitments in the UK Army.

During this session, Mr. Agyekum assured the committee of forthcoming evidence, including videos, audios, and testimonies from alleged victims that would substantiate his claims.

However, as the investigation progressed, the promised evidence failed to materialize. Mr. Agyekum became increasingly unresponsive, ignoring calls and messages from the committee’s chairman.

Attempts to contact alleged victims, whose details had been provided by Mr. Agyekum, were also fruitless as none were willing to corroborate the claims.

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Following these developments, the committee concluded its investigation, citing a lack of evidence to support the sex-for-grades allegations.

The full report of the committee’s findings was made public on the university’s website, promoting transparency and accountability.

Furthermore, copies of the report were submitted to the Minister for Education through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

Despite concluding this particular investigation, the university has not disbanded the investigative committee.

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Recognizing the severity of the accusations and the importance of upholding institutional integrity, the committee remains active.

The university continues to encourage anyone with credible information about any form of sexual harassment to come forward, assuring them that their evidence will be taken seriously and acted upon.

In this statement, STU not only seeks to clear its name but also to affirm its commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful academic environment.

By addressing these allegations head-on and providing avenues for genuine grievances to be heard, the university reinforces its dedication to the principles of fairness, transparency, and justice within the academic community.

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