Dean of the Faculty of Accounting and Finance at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Associate Professor Isaac Boadi, has clarified the controversy surrounding the recent barring of some students from lecture halls due to indecent dressing.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Prof. Boadi described the exercise as a necessary and corrective measure aimed at upholding professionalism within the institution.
“It was an instructional and correctional exercise. We have been advising them regarding dress code, but it seems some didn’t take it seriously, so we needed to act,” he said.
Prof. Boadi expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend of inappropriate dressing among students. He stressed that UPSA is not only focused on academic excellence but also on grooming students for society.
“As lecturers, who are also parents, we are not just here to teach, but to train them to become well-mannered individuals. People come with unkempt hair, wear slippers, and dress indecently, but we do not want them to carry that into the job market, as it will reflect poorly on UPSA,” he stated.
Some students were reportedly asked to leave lecture halls and return to their hostels or homes to change into clothing deemed more appropriate, an action that sparked confusion and complaints.
Some students, particularly those in Level 100, claimed the enforcement was inconsistent and appeared to target them specifically.
However, Prof. Boadi clarified that Level 200 to 400 students have already completed their exams, leaving only first-year students currently in session.
He emphasised that the exercise was not intended to violate students’ rights. “We respect human rights, but we also expect students to dress decently. Many of them live in hostels without parental guidance, so the university has to step in to instill discipline.”
Prof. Boadi added that had the university chosen to fully enforce its dress code policy, some students could have faced suspensions of two to three weeks under existing rules.
