By Yaw Opoku Amoako
The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has come under intense scrutiny following the strict enforcement of its dress code policy, which officially took effect on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
The initiative, aimed at curbing indecent dressing on campus, has sparked widespread debate after a viral video emerged showing a female student being physically dragged by a male believed to be a member of the university鈥檚 newly formed dress code task force.
Though some students have clarified that the confrontation in the video stemmed from a verbal exchange rather than a dress code violation, the incident has amplified concerns about the nature of the enforcement and the treatment of students.
Dress Code Crackdown
The UPSA administration had, in a memo dated June 30, 2025, informed students of its intention to clamp down on what it termed 鈥渋ncreasing indecency on campus.鈥
The Office of the Dean of Students emphasized that while the dress code was not new, it would now be strictly enforced, especially during lecture hours.
According to the memo, the university鈥檚 policy prohibits students from wearing certain outfits such as shorts, tracksuits, bathroom slippers, nose rings, anklets, and maintaining unkempt hair.
A special task force has since been deployed to monitor and prevent non-compliant students from entering lecture halls.
The memo reminded students to consult the Undergraduate Students Handbook 2018, which outlines acceptable student appearance under the university鈥檚 guiding principle: 鈥淪cholarship with Professionalism.鈥
Students Push Back
While some students have accepted the new directive in stride, others are challenging what they describe as discriminatory enforcement.
Several students allege that the task force disproportionately targets Level 100 students while turning a blind eye to their senior counterparts.
On Wednesday, tensions escalated when several students were denied access to lecture halls for violating the dress code, with some expressing frustration that they were blocked from writing crucial in-class assessments.
鈥淚 had an IA paper and I was stopped at the entrance. I tried to explain, but they just told me I should have known better,鈥 one student lamented.
Another added, 鈥淚f the policy applies to everyone, why are Level 200 and 300 students allowed in with the same clothes we鈥檙e being punished for?鈥
A Call for Dialogue
The controversy has spilled onto social media, with many users debating the university鈥檚 stance. While some believe the move will uphold academic discipline and instill a sense of professionalism among students, others argue that the policy is outdated, restrictive, and being applied with questionable fairness.
Calls are growing for the university鈥檚 leadership to engage in dialogue with the student body, especially as tensions rise amid ongoing exams and lectures.
The university is yet to release an official statement on the viral video or address the discrimination allegations. However, the incident has ignited a larger conversation about dress codes, student rights, and how to balance institutional values with individual expression in higher education spaces.
Several university for Professional Studies, UPSA students sacked from the classroom by task force for indecent dressing. They’ve been asked to go home pic.twitter.com/RVnixM5QdF
鈥 Elton Brobbey (@EltonBrobbey)
“>https://twitter.com/EltonBrobbey/status/1940353083982385329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>July 2, 2025
鈥 (@EltonBrobbey) July 2, 2025