The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has called for a comprehensive review and audit of the country’s curriculum development processes, describing the inclusion of LGBTQ-related content in a Senior High School teacher’s manual as “intentional” and deeply concerning.
In a press statement issued on Friday, January 16, 2026, the Bishops said the incident exposed significant systemic weaknesses in oversight 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 said.
The GCBC was responding to the controversy surrounding a Physical Education and Health teacher’s manual for Year Two Senior High Schools, which contained content on gender identity that sparked widespread public outcry.
While welcoming the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NaCCA) decision to withdraw the material and issue a revised manual, the Bishops insisted that the episode revealed deeper problems that required urgent attention.
“Nevertheless, we remain convinced that this incident reveals deeper weaknesses in oversight, consultation, and value alignment within curriculum development processes,” the statement added.
According to the Bishops, the manual was inconsistent with Ghana’s “cultural, biological, and moral understanding of the human person.”
The Conference 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.
The Bishops proposed the establishment of regular stakeholder dialogue involving parents, teachers, religious bodies, traditional authorities and education experts. They also recommended the creation of ethical oversight committees to vet materials dealing with sensitive issues such as personal identity, relationships and sexuality.
The GCBC commended Professor Godfred A. Bokpin and Mr. Moses Foh-Amoaning for their public advocacy on the matter, saying their calls for a formal apology and independent review reflected the concerns of many Ghanaians.
“Public trust in education depends on transparency, accountability and fidelity to constitutional and moral principles,” the statement emphasized.
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.
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.
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