Ntim Fordjour made false claims regarding teacher’s manual – NaCCA 

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has dismissed allegations that LGBTQ-related content has been introduced into Ghana’s Senior High School (SHS) curriculum, insisting that the claims are false and misleading.

In a press release signed by NaCCA’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Samuel O. Ofori Bekoe, the Council stressed that “no such content exists within the approved national curriculum,” and assured the public that Ghana’s education system remains firmly grounded in national values, constitutional principles, and child-centred development goals.

NaCCA explained that the controversy largely arises from a misunderstanding of the distinction between the national curriculum and Teacher Manuals. While the curriculum is the official policy document that outlines compulsory areas of study for learners, Teacher Manuals are supplementary instructional resources designed to support teachers with pedagogical guidance.

“The curriculum is the official policy document defining the mandatory areas of study for learners. In contrast, Teacher Manuals are supplementary instructional resources,” the statement said, adding that the manuals “do not constitute the curriculum itself, and their use is optional.”

Providing further clarification, NaCCA noted that a new SHS curriculum was introduced in the 2024/2025 academic year. For the first time in Ghana’s educational history, Teacher Manuals were developed to support teachers in implementing the new curriculum. To this end, NaCCA empanelled subject-specific writing teams in 2024, in collaboration with Transforming Teacher Education and Learning (T-TEL).

However, following a comprehensive internal technical review, NaCCA said it identified that a specific definition of “gender identity” contained in the Year 2 Physical Education and Health (Elective) Teacher Manual was not reflective of Ghanaian culture, norms, and values. Consequently, a revised version of the manual, aligned with national values and biological understanding, has been released and made publicly accessible online.

The Council added that steps are being taken to withdraw the printed version of the earlier manual, while all future revisions will be reflected in the digital versions on the official curriculum portal.

The clarification follows public accusations by the Member of Parliament for Assin South and a member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, who alleged that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government had secretly introduced LGBTQ-related content into Ghana’s school curriculum.

In a post on X on Tuesday, January 13, Rev. Fordjour claimed the government had “mischievously and deliberately smuggled LGBTQ agenda into the curriculum” through Teacher Manuals and other Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs).

“NDC has mischievously and deliberately smuggled LGBTQ agenda into the curriculum, printed and distributed Teacher Manuals and other Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) to promote LGBTQ contrary to their deceptive rhetoric of being the party which abhors LGBTQ,” he wrote.

The Assin South MP further demanded an immediate recall of all manuals and textbooks containing LGBTQ-related content and called for a comprehensive review of all affected teaching and learning materials.

“We further demand review of all portions of TLMs poisoned with LGBTQ agenda with immediate effect to sanitize the curriculum,” he added.

Rev. Fordjour also argued that the alleged agenda highlights what he described as the government’s earlier suppression of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely referred to as the anti-gay bill.

In response, the Ministry of Education and NaCCA stated unequivocally that the Government of Ghana has no intention to promote, endorse, or introduce LGBTQ content at any level of the educational system. They reaffirmed that Ghana’s curriculum remains anchored in the country’s socio-cultural fabric and constitutional principles.

NaCCA expressed appreciation to the public for its vigilance and assured stakeholders of its continued commitment to ensuring that all educational resources accurately reflect Ghana’s national identity and values.