Why sexual controversy surrounding Prof. Gyampo has resurfaced

The sexual controversy surrounding Professor Ransford Gyampo, a Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG), Legon and Acting CEO of the Ghana Shippers Authority, has resurfaced following a heated exchange with a colleague, Dr. George Domfe on TV3’s The KeyPoint program on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

The incident has reignited public debate over sexual harassment claims first raised against Ransford Gyampo in 2019 by BBC undercover reporters.

Legal Action Over Defamatory Comments

Professor Gyampo has formally demanded a public retraction and apology from Dr. Domfe over statements allegedly made during the live broadcast, in which Domfe claimed Ransford Gyampo “sleeps with young girls.”

Gyampo’s lawyers, from Darko, Keli-Delataa & Company, described the allegation as “reckless, false, and malicious” and warned that failure to comply within 24 hours on a comparable media platform would result in legal action.

This legal action comes few years after Gyampo had previously threatened to sue the BBC over its 2019 Sex for Grades: Undercover in West African Universities documentary, which exposed alleged sexual misconduct by him and fellow lecturer Dr. Paul Butakor.

That lawsuit never materialized despite his public statements at the time, leaving the documentary’s findings uncontested in public discourse.

University of Ghana’s 2019 Investigation

The University of Ghana had promptly investigated the claims following the BBC documentary. A Fact-Finding Committee, chaired by a retired Supreme Court Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo, found prima facie evidence of breaches of UG’s Code of Conduct and Statutes by both Gyampo and Dr. Butakor.

In a November 20, 2019 statement, then UG’s Director of Public Affairs, Stella A. Amoa, detailed the findings:

Evidence suggested misconduct contrary to Paragraph 6.4 of the Code of Conduct, which requires academic staff to enhance their own and the University’s image.

Further evidence indicated breaches of Statute 42(1)(e)(ii), prohibiting vexatious conduct directed at specific individuals.

Based on these findings, the matter was referred to the Disciplinary Committee for Senior Members for adjudication.

The University emphasized its commitment to rooting out sexual harassment and misconduct, assuring stakeholders that no member of the community would be shielded from accountability.

Disciplinary Action and Limitations

Following the investigation, Professor Gyampo received a six-month suspension without pay, while Dr. Butakor was suspended for four months.

Both were required to complete training on UG’s Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy and to undergo annual assessments for five years before resuming full academic duties.

Critics and former students have described these sanctions as insufficient, noting that Ransford Gyampo’s subsequent appointments to government positions raised questions about accountability and deterrence.

Renewed Allegations from Former Students

Former UG student Amelia Amemate, a one-time NDC parliamentary aspirant, has publicly detailed her experience of sexual harassment by Prof. Gyampo between 2010 and 2014.

Amelia Amemate stated that the harassment nearly derailed her education and criticised societal tendencies to doubt victims.

She also registered her frustration when Gyampo was appointed to a government office after the NDC returned to power, describing it as a disheartening message for survivors of sexual harassment.

Amemate emphasized that her decision to speak out in 2019 following the BBC exposé was personal and not politically motivated.

She condemned public narratives that attempt to misrepresent victims’ accounts for partisan purposes.

Dr. Domfeh Seeks Full Context

In response to the November 15 broadcast, Dr. George Domfe’s legal team requested the full, unedited recording of the TV episode from Media General, arguing that selective clips circulating online misrepresent the discussion and could damage his professional reputation.