Fact check: BBC's documentary failed to prove ‘sex for grades’ allegations against Ghanaian lecturers
The BBC Africa Eye’s documentary on ‘sex for grades’ at the University of Ghana and University of Lagos failed to live up the hype and expectations for some Ghanaians.
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The BBC on Sunday, October 6, 2019, advertised that it was going to premiere a documentary that will expose some lecturers from Ghana and Nigeria who exchanged grades for sex with their students.
Fast forward, Monday, October 7, 2019, came and the documentary was aired at 6pm.
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After the documentary was aired on October 7, some Ghanaians questioned if the film indeed depicted what it preached or promised. The answer is no!
Generally, students and Ghanaians have expressed disappointment in the two lecturers captured in the exposé.
But many have still questioned if the evidence adduced in the BBC documentary was enough to allege or suggest the lecturers involved are guilty of exchanging grades for sex.
The two Ghanaian lecturers captured in the exposé are Dr Paul Kwame Butakor, a lecturer at the Department of Teacher Education of the School of Education and Leadership and Professor Ransford Gyampo, lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana.
Based on the title of the exposé, ‘Sex for Grades’ one can conclude that the BBC failed with distinction in proving that in their documentary.
It can be argued that the BBC Africa Eye exposé cannot be accepted because it did not focus on how undeserved grades were offered to sexually harassed female students.
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The approached used by the investigators have since been criticized by some Ghanaians who say the BBC did not give enough evidence in their work.
Not to justify the actions of any of the characters in the documentary, in the instance of Professor Gyampo, there was no element of coercion or victimization which is implied in ‘sex for grades’ situations.
The lecturer in the film made advances at the student who wanted to be mentored. But in the process asked the lady to feel free around him but the proposal was turned down by the supposed student (undercover journalist).
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Prof Gyampo requested a hug after buying her shoes. She declined. And they parted ways. There was not an instance where the lecturer asked for sex in order to give the lady grades.
In conclusion, even though the lecturer sexually harassed the ladies, the BBC documentary did not do enough to prove clearly a case of ‘sex for grades’.
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the University of Ghana chapter of the University Teacher Association of Ghana has refuted sex-for-grades allegations made against two of its lecturers, Professor Ransford Gyampo and Dr Paul Kwame Butakor, in BBC's latest documentary.
President of the University of Ghana UTAG, Dr. Samuel Nkumban, has stated that the recent documentary by BBC Africa Eye on alleged sexual harassment lacks the substance for it to be tagged Sex For Grades.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
