Prof. Ransford Gyampo
It has been reported that Prof. Ransford Gyampo, formerly of the University of Ghana, engaged in sexual predation following a BBC Sex-for-Grade exposé.
An internal probe by the University of Ghana confirmed that unacceptable sexual activities did take place, for which the Political Science lecturer faced disciplinary action.
The university imposed a six-month suspension without pay and mandated counseling aimed at addressing his misconduct.
These findings clearly establish Prof. Gyampo as a sexual offender. Yet, when the university authorities determined that he had “served his term in purgatory” and was therefore fit to resume duties as an academic staffer at the country’s premier tertiary institution, many observers reacted with incredulity.
Sexual predation is a grave moral misconduct. In jurisdictions where ethics and moral standards underpin governance, offenders of this nature are unfit for public service, let alone leadership roles in institutions such as the Ghana Shippers’ Authority.
This stigma will continue to follow Prof. Gyampo, who has also positioned himself as a political moralist in the country. We stand with women and children’s rights activist Perpetual Akwada in her campaign to have him removed from his current role as CEO of the Shippers’ Authority.
Her campaign gained commendable visibility in the media yesterday, a recognition well-deserved, as the protection of our girls from the “violent kisses” of irresponsible sexual predators is paramount.
We cannot remain passive while perpetrators of such immoralities occupy public offices and are mistakenly regarded as role models.
Dangerous individuals should not be placed in positions where they could be emulated or accepted.
The time has come for the President to demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting young girls from predation and ensuring they can rise to the pinnacle of service to the nation.
The true number of Prof. Gyampo’s victims may never be known, but evidence suggests there are many. Many young women who faced his coercive advances were unable to come forward for fear of stigma.
At the time, they were entirely at his mercy, enduring harassment while ensuring their academic grades were not unfairly affected.
Our young women, especially those who endured such harassment, must not bear the added pain of seeing past transgressions overlooked.
Globally, former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces scrutiny in the UK over alleged connections to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a trafficker of young girls. Such examples underscore the importance of enforcing the rule of law.
Ghana must learn from these cases and strengthen systems to ensure governance is free from the moral corruption represented by sexual predation in educational institutions. We can and must do better.