LEGON Suspends Senior Lecturer Over Sexual Harassment

The University of Ghana, popularly known as Legon, has taken strong action against misconduct within its community, suspending Dr. Sampson Obed Appiah, a senior lecturer in the Sociology Department, for two semesters over sexual harassment charges.

The suspension, confirmed in a notice dated March 12^th, 2025, was signed by the university’s Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah.

Dr. Appiah was found guilty of breaching Section 1.1(A) of the Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy and Section 10.0 of the Code of Conduct for Academic Staff. His suspension spans the second semester of the 2024/2025 academic year and the first semester of the 2025/2026 academic year.

Beyond the suspension, Dr. Appiah faces additional sanctions, including restrictions on promotion for one year after his suspension, mandatory training on sexual harassment and misconduct facilitated by the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee, and the requirement to issue a written apology to the complainant.

This disciplinary action is part of a broader crackdown on misconduct at the university, with 16 students also facing sanctions for offenses ranging from plagiarism and document falsification to drug possession and inter-hall conflicts.

Among the students penalized are Wahid Mohammed and Boison Norbert, who were suspended for one academic year for possession of narcotics. They must also sign a good conduct undertaking and undergo counseling. Others, including Owusu Afrifa, Obeng Takyi Stephen, and Nicholas Armah, were sanctioned for various infractions.

The University of Ghana has restated its commitment to ensuring a safe and well-disciplined learning environment. It has urged all members of the university community to understand and follow the institution’s rules and to act responsibly. The administration has warned that any further misconduct will result in serious consequences.