A significant controversy has erupted in Ghana concerning the content of Senior High School (SHS) teacher manuals, specifically involving sections on "gender identity" and related concepts. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) initially issued a press release clarifying that no LGBTQ-related content existed within the approved national curriculum and that teacher manuals were supplementary and optional. This followed widespread media reports accusing NaCCA of promoting same-sex marriage and related activities through the teaching materials.

However, this explanation was swiftly deemed inadequate by various public figures. Professor Godfred Bokpin urged the government and NaCCA to apologize to the public, arguing that NaCCA's statement failed to address core public concerns regarding the manual development process and broader curriculum implementation issues. Prof. Bokpin stated, "It is just unfortunate because if you look at the statement released by the government officials, clearly they should have just admitted and apologised, it couldn't have just been an error, there should be a new consistency between the approved curriculum and the manual to guide teachers." He emphasized the need for greater stakeholder engagement and clarity in developing and disseminating educational materials to prevent future misunderstandings. NaCCA, in its press release dated January 13, 2026, had acknowledged that the definition of “Gender Identity” in the Year 2 Physical Education and Health (Elective) Teacher Manual did not reflect Ghanaian culture, norms, and values, while insisting the national curriculum itself was free of such content.

Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, vehemently rejected NaCCA's assertion that the controversial content was a mistake, instead insisting it was a deliberate decision. Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Rev. Fordjour reviewed the supposedly revised material and found that problematic content, particularly definitions of "sexual orientation" and "sexuality," largely remained unchanged. He highlighted that while changes were made to the definition of "gender," other objectionable areas were left untouched. "The only thing they have changed, only two things; every other problematic LGBT agenda still remains. So if they change just these two and think they have cured it, they have not cured it," he asserted, concluding that the inclusion was intentional and an attempt to "poison the minds of the people." He argued that genuine errors would have been straightforward to correct, criticizing NaCCA for making selective amendments only after specific concerns were publicly raised.

Rev. Fordjour further called for drastic measures, including the immediate deletion of all online and digital versions of the controversial teacher’s manual and a complete withdrawal of physical copies from circulation. He expressed a lack of trust in NaCCA's ability to independently handle the matter, demanding external oversight and involvement from the Committee on Education in Parliament. Additionally, he urged the government to revive discussions on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill and to delete any LGBT-related proposals from the constitutional review process, stressing that such matters should not be subject to a referendum. He also demanded accountability from involved officials, calling for their appearance before Parliament and the immediate removal of NaCCA's Director General, Prof. Samuel Ofori Obuobisah Bekoe. Rev. Fordjour appealed to the public to view the issue as a national, non-partisan concern, warning of lasting consequences for children if silence prevailed and stating, "It is your children who are being poisoned. It is your children who are being indoctrinated."

NaCCA had officially withdrawn printed copies of the Year 2 Physical Education and Health (Elective) Teacher Manual, acknowledging that sections on “gender identity” were inconsistent with Ghanaian culture, norms, and values. This manual, developed in 2024 as a supplementary guide for the new SHS curriculum, had been approved, printed with public funds, and distributed nationwide before the controversy erupted. A revised version was subsequently released, which NaCCA claimed reflected national values and a biological understanding of gender. Rev. Fordjour criticized the council for approving, printing, and distributing such materials, only to later label them "optional" when concerns arose, questioning the expenditure of public funds. He also raised concerns that teachers had already begun using the manuals, exposing students to the content before its withdrawal, with no clear directive on how to correct or undo what had been taught.

Adding to the chorus of demands, Moses Foh-Amoaning, Lead Advocate of the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, called for the establishment of an independent investigative body. His request aims to scrutinize Ghana’s curriculum development process and examine the potential influence of foreign cultural ideologies on the education system. Mr. Foh-Amoaning highlighted that this incident was not isolated, recalling previous controversies involving NaCCA, such as the Comprehensive Sexuality Education document from 2018-2019. He argued that such repeated issues indicate deeper structural problems within the curriculum approval process and a lack of sufficient safeguards to protect Ghana’s cultural and moral values, necessitating an independent inquiry.

The controversy underscores a growing public debate over educational content in Ghana, the transparency of curriculum policies, and the communication surrounding them to teachers, parents, and students. The calls for apologies, resignations, parliamentary oversight, and independent investigations reflect deep public concern about safeguarding national values and ensuring that educational materials are wholesome and aligned with Ghana's cultural, legal, and moral framework.