Lydia Forson criticises UMaT’s proposed dress code, says focus should be on academic excellence

Award-winning Ghanaian actress and entrepreneur Lydia Forson has criticised comments by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Professor Bernard Kumi-Boateng, regarding a proposed dress code expected to take effect from the next academic year.

The Vice-Chancellor recently indicated that male students wearing plaited hair and earrings, as well as female students deemed to be dressed indecently, would not be allowed to attend lectures under the new policy.

Reacting to the development, Lydia Forson described the renewed focus on students’ appearance as a distraction from more important issues affecting higher education.

She argued that there is no credible evidence linking hairstyles, personal appearance or dress to intelligence, discipline or academic performance, adding that educational institutions should prioritise innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving rather than policing how adults express themselves.

According to her, while institutions have the right to establish reasonable codes of conduct, appearance should not be treated as a measure of competence, character or academic ability.

Forson further suggested that Ghana’s continued emphasis on conformity reflects remnants of the country’s colonial education system, urging educational leaders to focus on preparing students to solve real-world challenges instead of enforcing appearance-based standards.