Ghanaian actress and activist, Lydia Forson, has weighed in on the growing debate on social media following the education minister’s recent declaration on SHS students‘ hair.
Haruna Iddrisu, the Education Minister, shut down social media debate regarding Senior High School (SHS) students cutting their long hair before reporting to school.
The Education Minister boldly declared, they will not tolerate long hair today or tomorrow in SHS.
He highlighted that if long hairs are accepted in schools, tomorrow it will be shoes the next day the uniforms students wear in SHS.
Speaking to patrons of the 75th anniversary of Mawuli School in the Volta Region, Haruna Iddrisu stated, “There is an ongoing debate on social media about haircuts and the size and length of hair in secondary school.
We will not tolerate it today; we will not tolerate it tomorrow in so long as we are moulding character. If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes, and the next day it will be the way they dress”.
He added, “Therefore, as part of our disciplinary measures, headmasters and GES, you are therefore empowered to take full control of how students behave on your campuses.
Anybody who thinks your child will walk into any institution of learning as if that child forgives my words—were to attend a beauty contest, the school environment is not for that purpose and is not cut out for that purpose and will not tolerate that as an institution,” he stated.
Reacting to the minister’s remarks, Lydia Forson noted that the minister’s statement exposed the real problems.
According to her, even with all the hair-cutting, girls are still being harassed, abused, and raped by the teachers meant to protect and guide them.
She wrote, “Unfortunately, this statement alone exposes the real problem. It reveals the belief that hair is somehow tied to vanity — that beauty, not identity, is what defines how young girls and even boys wear their hair”.
She further highlighted the double standard in Ghana, allowing foreigners to keep their hair, “What’s interesting is that this so-called “discipline” only applies to local students.
If you’re a foreigner, even an African with a different passport, you’re often exempt.
Lydia Forson added, “And strangely, somehow, students are able to learn, survive, and excel enough to pass exams and make it to secondary school — but suddenly, it’s there their hair becomes a problem?”
I would at least understand these arguments if they were limited to boarding school restrictions, but even those have workarounds.
And the irony?
Even with all the hair-cutting in the name of “morality” and “discipline,” girls are still being harassed, abused, and raped, often by the very people meant to protect and guide them”.
Also, Ras Mubarak, the former Member of Parliament for Kubungu could not grasp why the Education Ministry would concern itself with the looks of the students rather than improving the well-being of teachers, providing proper supervision of teachers in the rural areas, providing safe and favourable learning environments for kids.
He wrote, “How does keeping kids’ hair short stop them from growing to be double-salary takers or corrupt politicians? Schools should be focusing on civics, patriotism, and community service. That’s a more effective way to shape students’ values and behaviours.
Are we not all sickened by the nauseating corruption in public service, lack of accountability and a complete breakdown of patriotism?
The Ministry should focus on encouraging kids to take a keen interest in Science and Math through competitions and awards programs, improving the well-being of teachers, providing proper supervision of teachers, especially in the rural areas, providing safe and conducive learning environments for kids, increasing attention to the teaching of civics and building a country of disciplined, patriotic and sharp students. That’s what moulds kids into responsible and successful adults. Substance over perfunctory gestures in our educational system”.
See the post below:
Unfortunately this statement alone exposes the real problem.
— miss forson (@lydiaforson) October 26, 2025
It reveals the belief that hair is somehow tied to vanity — that beauty, not identity, is what defines how young girls and even boys wear their hair.
What’s interesting is that , this so-called “discipline” only… https://t.co/ig1YKHGWbY