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Elikem Kotoko backs education minister on hairstyle rules in schools
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Elikem Kotoko, has thrown his support behind the Education Minister’s stance on maintaining hairstyle rules in Senior High Schools, describing such measures as necessary for instilling discipline in students.
According to Mr. Kotoko, rules on hairstyles and appearance are not meant to suppress students’ rights but to help shape their character and prepare them for the future.
“I find absolutely nothing wrong with children being disciplined at this age. If today we say students cannot trim their hair, tomorrow we will say they can grow their nails, and then later we will question why we wear uniforms. The purpose of all these rules is to instill discipline not to enslave them,” he said.
Mr. Kotoko argued that allowing unrestricted hairstyles could lead to a breakdown of order in schools.
He said that structure and uniformity in grooming help students learn respect for rules and authority, values that are essential in nation-building.
He shared a personal experience with his daughter, explaining how he guided her to understand the importance of adhering to school grooming rules.
“My daughter, Etonam, once wanted to keep her natural hair, but I had to explain that these rules are not new. They’ve been there for years to ensure discipline,” he added.
Reacting to public criticism of the policy, Mr. Kotoko questioned those opposing the regulations, including individuals advocating for what they call “free hair” in schools.
He described such campaigns as misplaced and unnecessary.
“I find it worrying that hairstyle rules have become a national debate. It has no basis in our education system. The purpose of basic and secondary education is not only to teach but also to instill discipline,” he said.
He added that maintaining long or styled hair would also be impractical for students, as it requires frequent salon visits and the use of chemicals, which could be disruptive to academic life.
Mr. Kotoko concluded by emphasizing that discipline forms a core part of Ghana’s educational system and should not be compromised in the name of freedom. “Any parent who forgets that education is also meant to teach discipline is losing focus,” he stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced that it will begin a special revenue mobilisation exercise on Monday, November 10, 2025, to recover all monies owed to the Assembly for the 2025 fiscal year.
According to the AMA, the exercise aims to boost revenue generation and improve service delivery across the city.
it sais a Revenue Mobilisation Task Force will visit businesses, properties, and outdoor advertising locations to reconcile bills and collect outstanding payments.
The Assembly advised all ratepayers to make available valid receipts of payment for Business Operating Permits (BOPs), Property Rates, Outdoor Advertising Fees, and Rents.
The Assembly added that those who may not be present during the exercise are encouraged to leave their receipts with caretakers to avoid penalties, as no excuses will be accepted from defaulters or their agents.
The assembly noted that the task force will also remove all unauthorised billboards, and companies found to have erected such structures without permits will be surcharged with the cost of removal.
The AMA urged all businesses and property owners to cooperate with the exercise, noting that the funds collected will help the Assembly continue to provide essential services such as sanitation, infrastructure development, and public safety.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to review his approach to governance, describing it as “not the best.”
He said the recent bail conditions imposed on some former government officials are unfair and appear to be punitive rather than just.
Mr. Glover made these comments during an interview on Metro TV.
He explained that bail is supposed to allow an accused person to appear before the court while the case is being tried, and not to serve as a form of punishment.
“If you want me to appear regularly before the police and the court, you can put a condition for me, but it should not be punitive. You can take my passport, ask me to report, or inspect my property. But where you make the bail so high that the person cannot even meet it, that becomes punishment,” he said.
He noted that some of the accused persons, including former government officials such as “my brother Assibey and my sister Gifty,” are still in custody because they have not been able to meet their bail requirements.
“What is the use of it? You keep them in incarceration, and they cannot have their day in court. Then you slap them with high bail conditions, making it difficult for them to secure their release. So what kind of justice are we talking about?,” he questioned.
Mr. Glover further criticized what he described as prejudicial comments made against accused persons before their cases are even heard in court, adding that it undermines justice.
He said the government, through agencies like the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the police, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, should ensure fairness and transparency in handling such cases.
He urged President Mahama to pay attention to these developments, warning that such practices affect the country’s image and governance.
By: Jacob Aggrey
