The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has called for a comprehensive review and audit of curriculum development processes following the inclusion of LGBTQ-related content in a Physical Education and Health teacher’s manual for Year Two Senior High Schools, describing the development as “intentional” and deeply concerning.
In a press release issued on Friday, January 16, 2026, the Bishops stressed that education must reflect the country’s cultural, moral and constitutional values.
According to the Bishops, the manual is inconsistent with Ghana’s “cultural, biological, and moral understanding of the human person.”
The Catholic Bishops explained that the audit will prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“We call for a comprehensive review of curriculum development and editorial processes, with particular attention to transparency, accountability, and value alignment,” the statement said.
While welcoming the clarification by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) that the approved national curriculum does not include LGBTQ-related lessons, the Bishops commended the Council for withdrawing the material and issuing a revised manual aligned with national norms and values.
However, they insisted that the episode exposed deeper systemic weaknesses.
“Nevertheless, we remain convinced that this incident reveals deeper weaknesses in oversight, consultation, and value alignment within curriculum development processes,” the statement said, adding that public trust in education depends on transparency, accountability and fidelity to constitutional and moral principles.
The Bishops also acknowledged the public advocacy of Professor Godfred A. Bokpin and Mr. Moses Foh-Amoaning, whose calls for a formal apology and an independent review, they said, reflected the concerns of many Ghanaians and underscored expectations that education policy should remain rooted in the country’s cultural heritage and moral integrity.
The Conference announced that it 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. According to the Bishops, the goal is constructive engagement, institutional reform and the rebuilding of trust between families, schools and the state.
They further proposed the institutionalisation of regular stakeholder dialogue involving parents, teachers, religious bodies, traditional authorities and education experts, as well as the establishment of ethical oversight committees to vet materials dealing with sensitive issues such as personal identity, relationships and sexuality.
Reaffirming their commitment to the moral and intellectual integrity of Ghana’s education system, the Bishops stressed that education goes beyond skills training to the formation of upright citizens guided by conscience and committed to the common good.
The statement was signed by the Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi.
Meanwhile, NaCCA has since recalled the printed copies of the manual, acknowledging that certain content on “Gender Identity” did not align with Ghanaian culture, norms, and values.
The Council has assured the public that corrective measures are being taken to ensure that future teacher manuals reflect local cultural standards.
Click here to read the statement by the GCBC
