Tyrone Iras Marhguy, the gifted Ghanaian Rastafarian boy who gained national attention in 2021 after being turned down for admittance to a prominent senior high school due to his dreadlocks, performed exceptionally well on his final examinations, receiving all straight As. as in each of his eight papers.
Achimota School first turned away Marhguy and another Rastafarian kid, Oheneba Nkrabea, due to their hairdo, as previously reported by HowAfrica. The administrators of the school insisted that they could not permit the boys to enroll in class, notwithstanding their parents’ objections regarding their right to religious freedom.
Initially, the school had given the parents of the students a deadline to either trim their dreadlocks or find another school to enroll their children. They declined, though, and afterwards said they would take their case to court.
A human rights court in Accra, the capital of Ghana, issued an admissions order for Marhguy and Nkrabea to Achimota School in May 2021. According to the local news site Citi News, Justice Gifty Agyei Addo made the finding that the country’s Attorney-General was unable to provide a legal defense for the boys’ access to an education that was restricted because of their dreadlocks.
After being accepted by the institution, Marhguy just passed the 2023 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with perfect scores. The scientific student wrote papers in the subjects of biology, chemistry, physics, and elective mathematics. The remaining subjects were Core Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, and English Language.
Social media users have since been sharing a video of Marhguy verifying his results with his friends and joining them in celebrating after witnessing his accomplishment.
Odds against odds. 8As bagged!! 🎉🎉🥳🥳🥳. We did it family; we made it! 🥳🥳🎉#tyronemarhguy, #achimotaschool, #achimotarasta, #wassce, #8As, #NSMQ2023, #WASSCE, #WASSCE2023 pic.twitter.com/BzHxDuB4oi
— Tyrone Iras Marhguy (@marhguy_tyrone) December 19, 2023
After passing the Basic Education Certificate Examination, Marhguy and Nkrabea were admitted to Achimota School (BECE). The nation’s Computerized School Selection and Placement System places students in senior high schools who pass the tests and are qualified for admission (CSSPS). Marhguy allegedly received very high marks on the exams, and his academic records were even included in the lawsuit to demonstrate his academic brilliance.
However, the Attorney-General, who was representing the Achimoth School, supposedly contended that permitting the kids to wear dreadlocks at the publicly sponsored institution would have an impact on both custom and policy.
The Attorney General also contended that there shouldn’t be a claim of rejection because the pupils hadn’t even finished the requirements to be enrolled in the institution. But Justice Addo rejected the Attorney General’s claims and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.
It’s still baffling to me that Achimota school tried to challenge his admission due to his locs. How ironic.
That’s how you win and quieten the post colonial mindsets.
Congratulations Tyrone Marhguy. Keep winning! pic.twitter.com/69cyDYuqGJ— Ama K Abebrese (@Ama_K_Abebrese) December 19, 2023