Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has clarified that all references to sex in Ghana’s educational materials must strictly reflect biological sex as determined at birth, stressing that there must be no ambiguity in the definition of a man or a woman.
He made the clarification during a training session in Tamale on the Ghanaian Youth Handbook and the rollout of the Guidance and Counselling Framework, amid heightened public debate over the content of some teaching and learning materials.
According to the Minister, references to sex, a man, or a woman in educational literature must be based solely on biological definitions, noting that this position aligns with Ghana’s cultural values, social norms, and moral foundations.
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Mr Iddrisu said the clarification was necessary to address concerns raised by the public and confirmed that issues identified in the affected materials had been corrected.
“Going forward, all publications by the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and institutions within the education sector must respect the natural and biological definition of sex,” he stressed.
He added that education plays a central role in shaping societal values and that policy decisions must prioritise what is best for Ghanaian learners and teachers.
As part of steps to resolve the controversy, the Minister disclosed that he had directed the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to take full responsibility for the matter and act with urgency.
He revealed that NaCCA had admitted that the definition of gender identity contained in the affected teacher manual did not reflect Ghanaian values and norms.
Mr Iddrisu further announced that NaCCA had been instructed to recall all 736 printed copies of the Year Two Physical Education and Health Elective Teacher Manual for senior high schools.
He cautioned teachers against relying on the hard copies, explaining that corrections had already been made to the online version of the curriculum.
The Education Minister explained that Ghana’s curriculum is dynamic and subject to continuous review to ensure alignment with approved national standards.
He said all revisions would be published on the official curriculum portal, where teachers are expected to access the most current and approved materials for classroom instruction.
The Minister’s remarks come against the backdrop of growing political tension over the issue, with the Minority in Parliament calling for the dismissal of the Director-General and Board Chair of NaCCA, accusing them of negligence.
NaCCA has since withdrawn the printed manuals and released a revised version, which it says reflects a biological understanding of sex and aligns with Ghana’s cultural values.