On Friday, September 19^th, 2025, the Ashesi Judicial Committee (AJC) heard and deliberated on an allegation of sexual assault which occurred between a student and a third-party staff member in the 2024/25 Summer Semester. The accused is a member of the Class of 2028.

Background

During the 2024/25 Summer Semester, the accused was alleged to have engaged in outercourse with a third-party employee on campus without consent. Following the incident, the third-party employee reported the matter to a first responder, and a formal complaint was subsequently filed on the employee’s behalf. The case was brought before the AJC for deliberation.

Hearing

At the hearing, the accused admitted to the complainant’s account of the events. However, the committee found inconsistencies in the report that were important enough to matter for the case.

• Evidence suggested the two had a prior inappropriate relationship, which the complainant had denied.
• Records confirmed that the student had visited the third-party employee’s home, though details of what occurred there remained disputed.
• The complainants’ statements about how these visits happened were not accurate, and the committee concluded that critical information had been misrepresented.
• The committee determined that these misrepresentations were serious and affected how the case was understood.

Based on the evidence presented, the AJC concluded that:

• The student breached University policy by failing to uphold standards of consent and by engaging in an inappropriate relationship with an employee.
• The third-party employee (the complainant) also misrepresented key facts about their relationship with the student. The committee found this unacceptable and material to the case.
• The employee likewise engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student, which breached University policy.
• Both parties were aware of the University’s policy on staff–student relationships before this incident.

The AJC deliberated on the following infractions of policies and sanctioning guidelines in the Student Handbook:

• “Sexual assault is defined as any sexual contact that occurs without the other person’s consent. Specifically, it is intentional physical contact with an intimate part of the body or with clothes covering intimate body parts without the consent of the person touched.” (Section 10.15)
• “Students have the responsibility to ensure that any sexual interaction occurs only with mutual consent.” (Section 10.13).
• “Romantic or sexual relationships between students and faculty/staff of Ashesi in the community are unacceptable because they interfere with the University’s educational mission and threaten the climate of trust, concern, and respect to which Ashesi University is committed.” (Section 10.17)

Verdict & Recommendation(s)

After carefully reviewing the facts of the case, the AJC found that the student violated University policy by committing sexual assault and by entering a prohibited relationship with a staff member. Based on the evidence, the Committee has imposed a one-semester suspension (September–December 2025). The student may resume studies in January 2026.

The Committee also determined that the staff member (the complainant) misrepresented key aspects of their relationship with the student in ways that materially affected the case. This conduct was found to be a serious breach of trust and of University policy regarding staff–student relationships. The Committee has recommended appropriate disciplinary action through Universityadministrative processes.

The AJC emphasizes that in this case, both parties failed to uphold the standards expected in our community.

The Committee would like to advise:

• Ashesi University has zero tolerance for sexual misconduct. Students must always obtain clear consent in all sexual interactions and must not, under any circumstances, engage in relationships with staff members or third-party employees. These standards exist to ensure that all members of our community feel safe and respected.
• Students are strongly encouraged to make responsible choices and take advantage of the resources available on campus to support their growth and wellbeing.
• The student body is reminded to learn from previous cases adjudicated by the AJC, as they highlight the expectations and standards that guide our shared community.

This case provides a lot of learning for the entire community, and the hope is that it is reflected on as such. Our code of ethics is central to our mission: to train a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders in Africa; to cultivate within our students the critical thinking skills, concern for others, and the courage it will take to transform a continent.

This code applies to all, no matter the circumstance.