Tyrone Iras Marhguy, a Computer Engineering Student, University of Pennsylvania and a former Student, Achimota School, has said some changes must come gradually.
His comments come following the growing debate on the strict directive on approved hairstyles for Senior High School students across the country.
According to Tyrone Iras Marhguy, he is not denying the challenges associated with SHS students keeping their hair, but obstacles shouldn’t excuse inaction.
In a long write-up on X, he wrote, “I understand the diverse views on whether we should keep our hair. I also get the fears: beauty competition among students and maintenance challenges, as my good friend Frederick Arkoh also pointed out. He told anecdotal scenes when @AchimotaSchool briefly allowed sneakers; it was a mess! Soon, classrooms filled with flashing red-green-blue shoes and rivalry until Motown rightfully demanded the familiar “Achimota” sandals.
However, these real challenges were summarized as “We are moulding character so that we won’t tolerate long hair.” Then came a straw man about beauty pageants and the slippery claim that keeping hair would somehow lead to no shoes, then no clothes, no school, no education, and finally, no Ghana”.
He added, “I’m not denying its challenges, but obstacles shouldn’t excuse inaction. None of us will have air in our lungs in 2325, but will future lads and lasses still shave their heads in the name of “moulding character”? Moulded into what, exactly? If shorter hair means better character, then no hair must mean perfection; it’s a conversation for another day.
Some changes must come gradually, but they begin with acknowledgement. After the first sem at the @Penn, I remember my silent frustration with my WASSCE Science (Elective ICT) curriculum. I thought I had a modern background, but it was QBasic 64, a useful yet relic beneath modern demands. Yet it remains, while Python is barely taught. Maybe it is a lack of infrastructure (I thought), but you don’t need GPUs and supercomputers to learn Python or C programming at school? That conversation may soon be visited, and if faulty, revised.
If we forbid discussion about our problems, we only preserve them”.
Also, Presidential Staffer, Bridget Otoo, has weighed in on the never-ending debate regarding the strict directive on approved hairstyles for Senior High School students across the country.
According to Bridget Otoo, the fact that the older generation’s hair where cut while going to SHS does not mean they should allow the same to happen to others.
She highlighted that, when Ghanaians talk through advocacy, things change.
Bridget Otoo also revealed that he was traumatised because she was forced to cut her hair.
The Presidential staffer also prays that Ghana get to a point where good morals aren’t tied to our ponytail or Afro hair.
In her post on X, Bridget Otoo wrote, “Remember, those speaking out can do so now cos they are no longer in a vulnerable position.
The fact that it happened to us doesn’t mean we should let the same happen. When we talk, things change. It’s called advocacy. I’m not talking about insults, which I’m not in support of!”.
See the post below:
This write-up is a humble conversation, not aggression. Again, I'm no writer or debater, but an intrigued common student who also believes in the goodwill of my country and its leaders.
— Tyrone Iras Marhguy (@marhguy_tyrone) October 27, 2025
I understand the diverse views on whether we should keep our hair. I also get the fears:… pic.twitter.com/tfIL4T5l7H