Professor Gyampo is resource person on
governance matters for most media houses
The Senior Lecturer at the
University of Ghana who has been cited in a sex-for-grade allegation has denied
any wrongdoing.
Professor Ransford Gyampo, a Political Science luminary, said
Monday he is the target of a vile agenda to tarnish his
image, insisting he does not do ‘sex for grades.’
“I had criticised a political
party and they felt putting sexual allegations on me was a way of shutting me
up.”
He added, “I’ve always said that the worst a politician can do is
kill me but even with that, I’m not scared to die.”
He told JoyNews he will
soon embark on a legal campaign to clear his name.
“I have a lot to say about this matter. But I am suing the
BBC for defamation tomorrow, so I will keep some of the facts to myself for
now,” he wrote in a statement issued Monday and published in full below.
BBC Africa Eye documentary
The documentary in which the
respected Lecturer was cited in was commissioned the BBC Africa Eye.
The investigative
journalism network explains the documentary is in response to allegations of
sexual harassment by lecturers that have hovered over tertiary institutions.
After initial interviews, BBC
Africa Eye sent undercover journalists posing as students inside the University
of Lagos and the University of Ghana.
The lead reporter in the exposé, Kiki Mordi, said she was also a
victim of sexual harassment when she was in school.
The BBC said its female
reporters were “sexually harassed, propositioned and put under pressure by
senior lecturers at the institutions” while they were wearing secret cameras.
The bulk of the excerpt
released spent time in the University of Lagos and one of its lecturers alleged
attempts to proposition a student seeking admission into the school.
A lecturer at the University’s
College Of Education, Dr Paul Kwame Butakor, was also indicted in the
investigative piece.
He has also denied the claims.
It is expected that more lectures will be implicated in the exposé.
Read Prof
Gyampo’s statement as posted on his Facebook Page
Good Afternoon
Folks,
1. I have been
counseled to be silent on a matter of entrapment masterminded by a certain
unscrupulous people, with the aid of BBC (African Eye) against me.
2.
Unfortunately, my students this afternoon also insisted that I say something to
clear the air. I am grateful to them for the support they showed me this
afternoon. I am grateful to all my friends for the numerous phone calls and
messages to show solidarity. For my haters who were expecting to see a worst video, and actually texted to rejoice over
what they think is going to be my downfall, I forgive them
3. I have a lot
to say about this matter. But I am suing the BBC for defamation tomorrow, so I
will keep some of the facts to myself for now.
4. Let me
state however, that I have not involved myself in the BBC's so-called sex for
grades and will never do so. Their own video documentary evidence could not
establish this. I am aware of my University's Sexual Harassment Policy and I
have always adhered to its dogmas.
5. The lady
involved in my informal conversation, was not my student and she wasnt also a
student from the University of Ghana where I teach. I therefore cannot decipher
how I could manipulate the grade of a non-student. The BBC ignored all her
contributions to our conversation. They ignored all her messages she sent to
me. They ignored my objections and letters written to refute their allegations.
They also edited the video to suit their purpose.
6. While I
prepare to sue the BBC for carrying out the most bogus and unprofessional piece
of documentary in the world so far, I wish to remind them that Ghana and for
that matter, Africa, has long thrown out the yoke of colonialism.
7. We are an
independent continent with our own institutions that can handle internal
matters. There cannot be much talk about strengthening institutions when they
are blatantly prevented from doing their work by needless intruders like the
BBC. The University of Ghana where I teach, has credible outfit and mechanisms
for dealing with matters of harassment. Why did the BBC refused to encourage
the one harassed to report the matter? Sexual harassment is also a criminal
matter. Why has the BBC refused to report the matter?
8. I am
aware of those behind this, just for the purposes of gagging me. But I wish to
assure them that I remain Yaw Gyampo. I wont be silenced. Their worst may be to
kill me. But in as much as I love my family, I wont be scared to die in the
course of keeping regimes on their toes, without malice, just for the purposes
of shaping our governance landscape.
I have not
engaged in any so-called sex for grades and I will stay true to my calling in
doing my best for God, students and country.
Yaw Gyampo
A31, Prabiw
PAV Ansah Street
Saltpond
A31, Prabiw
PAV Ansah Street
Saltpond
&
Suro Nipa House
Kubease
Larteh-Akuapim
Suro Nipa House
Kubease
Larteh-Akuapim
Source: MyJoyOnline.com
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