By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has clarified that all educational materials used in Ghana must define sex strictly based on biological sex at birth, emphasizing that there should be no ambiguity in references to a man, a woman, or sex within the country’s education system.
Speaking at a training session in Tamale on the Ghanaian Youth Handbook and the rollout of the Guidance and Counselling framework, Minister Iddrisu stated that references to man, woman, and sex in educational literature must reflect biological reality. He noted that this approach aligns with Ghanaian values, culture, and societal norms, which should guide the upbringing of learners.
The clarification comes after public concerns over content in some educational materials, particularly sections relating to gender identity. The Minister indicated that the Ministry of Education has taken steps to correct the affected materials and reaffirmed that the sex of a person at birth is the accepted standard in Ghana.
Minister Iddrisu added that all future publications by the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, and heads of educational institutions must comply with the natural definitions of sex, a man, and a woman. He emphasized that the guiding principle should always be what benefits Ghana, teachers, and learners.
As part of corrective measures, the Minister directed the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to take full responsibility and act urgently. NaCCA determined that the definition of gender identity in the Year Two Physical Education and Health Elective Teacher Manual for senior high schools did not reflect Ghanaian values and culture.
Consequently, all 736 printed copies of the affected manual have been recalled. Corrections have already been made to the online version, and teachers are cautioned not to rely on the hard copies. The Minister noted that the curriculum is dynamic and subject to regular updates, with all approved materials available on the official curriculum website.
The Minister’s comments come amid pressure from the Minority in Parliament, which has called for the dismissal of NaCCA’s Director-General, Professor Samuel Ofori Bekoe, and the Board Chair, citing negligence in including LGBTQ-related content. NaCCA has since issued a revised version that it says aligns with national values and presents a biological understanding of the subject.
