Dreadlock-haired student of Achimota School scores ‘8As’ in WASSCE

Scoring ‘8As’ in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is the dream of every senior high school student who becomes a candidate.

However, it takes more than a dream or wish. Hard work based on one’s intellect is what makes it possible.

One candidate who many may have least expected to achieve this feat is Tyrone Iras Marhguy, the rasta-haired student whose admission into Achimota School stirred controversy.

In 2021 when he secured admission into Motown, the School authorities were apprehensive about accepting him and his friend into the fold of students with their dreadlocked rasta on.

The Governing Board of Achimota School wanted them to go by the admission rules, including wearing a normal hair style.

This engendered what seemed a national debate over whether it is their brains that are needed to do well in school or their hair.

Those who were against their admission contended that they would influence their pears negatively. This view was countered by those who thought that such an opinion is based on backward thinking.

The Rastafarian students sued the Achimota School Board of Governors, the Minister of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and the Attorney-General for denying them enrolment.

Justice prevailed and on May 31, 2021, a High Court ruled that the school authorities should admit the students.

By this time, his friend, Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea, had secured admission at Ghana International School on a scholarship, hence he did not pursue the matter further.

Tyrone Marhguy, however, followed up and got admitted into Achimota School and joined his mates for the end-of-term examination barely hours after being officially enrolled.

On December 18, the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) released the results of the 2023 WASCE.

While the results of many of his colleagues were either withheld or cancelled for various acts of indiscipline, Tyrone’s was among those released.

When he checked, it was ‘straight As’ as his peers describe it.

Then it was time for jubilation.

Joined by his friends, they shouted ‘heat, heat, heat!!!!’