The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has urged a thorough review and audit of the nation’s curriculum development processes, expressing concern over the inclusion of LGBTQ-related material in a Senior High School teacher’s manual, which it described as “intentional” and troubling. In a statement released on Friday, January 16, 2026, and signed by the Bishops, the GCBC noted that the incident highlighted serious gaps in oversight and value alignment within the education sector.
“We call for a comprehensive review of curriculum development and editorial processes, with particular attention to transparency, accountability, and value alignment,” the statement emphasised. The intervention comes in response to public controversy over a Year Two Senior High School Physical Education and Health teacher’s manual that contained references to gender identity, sparking widespread criticism.
While welcoming the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NaCCA) decision to withdraw the material and issue a revised manual, the Bishops insisted that the episode revealed deeper problems that required urgent attention. “Nevertheless, we remain convinced that this incident reveals deeper weaknesses in oversight, consultation, and value alignment within curriculum development processes,” the statement added.
According to the Bishops, the manual was inconsistent with Ghana’s “cultural, biological, and moral understanding of the human person.” The Conference has prepared a position paper on the matter, which will be formally submitted to the Government, NaCCA, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service.
The Bishops proposed the establishment of regular stakeholder dialogue involving parents, teachers, religious bodies, traditional authorities and education experts. They also recommended the creation of ethical oversight committees to vet materials dealing with sensitive issues such as personal identity, relationships and sexuality.
The GCBC commended Professor Godfred A. Bokpin and Mr. Moses Foh-Amoaning for their public advocacy on the matter, saying their calls for a formal apology and independent review reflected the concerns of many Ghanaians.
The statement underscored that public confidence in education rests on transparency, accountability, and adherence to constitutional and moral principles. The Bishops emphasized that education must extend beyond skills acquisition to the shaping of responsible citizens, guided by conscience and dedicated to the common good.
The release was signed by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference. In response to the controversy, NaCCA has withdrawn the printed manuals, admitting that portions on “Gender Identity” were inconsistent with Ghanaian cultural values, norms, and traditions.
Source: Myjoyonline
