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Introduction
During the 75th anniversary celebration of Mawuli Senior High School in Ho on 25 October 2025, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu reiterated that public SHS campuses will no longer “tolerate long hair.” In his address, the Minister warned that schools are meant to mould character, not stage beauty contests.
He argued that allowing long or styled hair in one year would open the door to demands for other dress and grooming changes – “If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes, and the next day it will be the way they dress.”
Just days earlier, a viral video had reignited the debate: a distraught first-year student at Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ SHS in Kumasi was filmed in tears at a barber shop as teachers forced her to cut her long, natural hair before the start of school.
The Minister and government officials say strict hair rules are about discipline and character formation, not fashion.
Historic Context: Colonial Rules and Cultural Shifts
Grooming standards for Ghanaian students have long been influenced by history. During colonial and missionary rule, European authorities imposed Western hairstyles as signs of “civilisation,” often requiring African students to cut their hair short or even shave their heads. Dr Mary Chinery-Hesse, an international civil servant and the first female Chancellor of the University of Ghana, reflecting on colonial schools, recalled how pupils were banned from wearing shoes for uniformity (“since everybody could not afford it, nobody should wear it”).
By the same logic, critics argue, arbitrary hair bans originated as colonial “civilising” rules against African textures. A recent opinion piece observed that forcing students to cut their natural hair is widely seen as “a leftover from colonial times, a rule that suppresses our identity.”
Indeed, older generations recall a time when Ghanaian girls often wore Afros, braids, or twists to school without issue – one education expert quipped, “Our mothers wore Afros, twists, African thread, etc. to school — and survived.” Survivors of Ghana’s legal fights over hair (such as the 2021 Achimota dreadlocks case) say blanket haircut rules echo oppressive pasts and risk violating rights.
In this light, the Minister and his backers insist that strict hair codes reinforce shared identity and focus. Haruna Iddrisu himself argued that relaxing the rule on hair today would force schools to accommodate a cascade of other demands.
Expert Perspectives: Discipline vs. Identity
A range of education stakeholders have weighed in on the dispute. Professor Eric Anani of the University of Cape Coast questioned whether policing hair really builds character.
Speaking to DUBAWA, he noted that no credible evidence links hairstyle to academic discipline, and warned that focusing on hair could distract from improving teaching and learning conditions. “Cutting students’ hair has no proven benefit for their education,” he said. Instead, Prof. Anani urged authorities to reconsider whether the rule serves Ghanaian cultural values or simply echoes colonial habits.
Daniel Dotse, co-founder of Lead For Ghana, emphasised that policies must adapt to the 21st century. He acknowledged the importance of discipline but argued that any grooming rules should be crafted with input from students and cultural sensitivity.
“In an age of social media and global exposure, schools should help students express their identities while staying focused on education,” he told DUBAWA. Dotse noted that strict, top-down edicts often backfire on social platforms and urged schools to engage parents and youth leaders in reviewing the code.
Eugenia Tachie-Menson, leader of the Young Educators Forum, voiced concern about gender fairness and well-being. She pointed out that haircut rules apply only to girls, which can send a troubling message about self-image.
“Our daughters deserve to feel confident in school,” Tachie-Menson told DUBAWA. She suggested that if schools must regulate hair for safety or hygiene, they should clarify the reasons and allow styles that meet those concerns (neatly plaited braids, buns or tied-back hair). In her view, fostering good hygiene and teaching proper hair care in class could achieve discipline without undermining students’ cultural pride.
Echoing parents’ worries, Kwabena Annor, whose daughter is in SHS, sympathised with the student in the viral video. He described how upset she was after being forced to cut her curls. “She felt like she was losing part of herself,” Annor told DUBAWA.
He understood the need for school rules, but pleaded for compassion. “Rules should not punish a child’s identity or family traditions,” he said, calling on schools to explain policies clearly and avoid public shaming. Other parents have similarly demanded transparent guidelines or even a grace period for families to prepare.
Public Reaction: Social Media in Uproar
The social-media-fueled controversy referenced a recent viral video of a first-year Yaa Asantewaa SHS student in tears as barbers cut her long hair. The minister explicitly linked the debate to broader school discipline, telling education officials that headmasters have full authority “to take full control of how students behave on your campuses,” including enforcing existing appearance rules.
This directive follows a wave of online debate. Both local and national media have noted that the issue of haircuts in Ghanaian schools has flared up intermittently, including a 2021 case at the elite Achimota School, where Tyrone Marhguy, a Rastafarian boy, was initially denied admission due to his dreadlocks.
Iddrisu’s speech alluded to that controversy, but stressed that the issue is not about faith or culture but about uniform school discipline. In his words, any child entering a “place of learning” should not treat it “as if to attend a beauty contest.”
Amid the online clash, established institutions also weighed in. The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) publicly endorsed the ban, arguing it was necessary for school discipline. GNAT’s general secretary, Thomas Tanko Musah, declared,
“We support the Minister of Education 100%” and reiterated that campuses are for learning, not social events. He emphasised that students should not be distracted by fashion, saying, “the educational institution is not a party centre…so whoever goes there to learn must be ready to play by the rules of the game.”
Conclusion
The “no long hair” directive has ignited a debate about discipline, tradition, and the future of Ghana’s schools. Advocates say strict grooming is vital to mould student character and maintain equality; opponents see an authoritarian echo of colonialism. Amid heated social media exchanges and emotional scenes, such as the viral Yaa Asantewaa video, many Ghanaians agree on one thing: any policy on hair must be fair, transparent, and sensitive to today’s reality. As one parent summarised, “We’re not against discipline, but schools should help shape minds – not shame identities.” Moving forward, experts argue that balancing individual rights with school order will require conversation and compromise. Only by involving teachers, students, and families in crafting the rules can Ghana ensure its schools remain places of learning and dignity.
