The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has requested a thorough examination and audit of the country’s curriculum creation processes, citing the inclusion of LGBTQ-related information in a Senior High School teacher’s manual as “intentional” and profoundly troubling.
The Bishops published a press statement on Friday, January 16, 2026, citing structural flaws in monitoring 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 read.
The GCBC was reacting to the controversy over a Year Two Senior High School Physical Education and Health teacher’s manual that included gender identity-related content that caused a great deal of public outrage.
The Bishops maintained that the incident exposed more serious issues that needed immediate action, even as they applauded the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NaCCA) decision to remove the content and publish an updated handbook.
“Nevertheless, we remain convinced that this incident reveals deeper weaknesses in oversight, consultation, and value alignment within curriculum development processes,” said the statement.
The Bishops claimed that the manual did not align with Ghana’s “cultural, biological, and moral understanding of the human person.”
A position paper on the subject has been written by the Conference and will be formally submitted to the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education, the Government, and NaCCA.
The Bishops suggested holding frequent stakeholder discussions with educators, parents, religious organisations, traditional authority, and education specialists.
Additionally, they suggested establishing ethical oversight committees to review content pertaining to delicate subjects including relationships, sexuality, and personal identity.
The GCBC applauded Professor Godfred A. Bokpin and Mr. Moses Foh-Amoaning for advocating for a formal apology and independent review, citing the concerns of many Ghanaians.
The statement emphasised the importance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to constitutional and moral principles in education.
The Bishops emphasised that education aims to develop decent people led by conscience and committed to the common good, rather than just skill training.
Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, signed the declaration.
Since then, NaCCA has recalled the manual’s printed copies, admitting that some of its “Gender Identity” information did not conform to Ghanaian culture, customs, and values.
Source: newsthemegh.com