Catholic Bishops Demand Full Audit of Curriculum Processes After LGBTQ Content Appears in SHS Manual

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 troubling.

In a statement issued on Friday, January 16, 2026, the Bishops stressed that education must reflect Ghana’s cultural, moral and constitutional values. They argued that the withdrawn manual was inconsistent with the country’s “cultural, biological, and moral understanding of the human person.”

The Conference said a full audit of curriculum development and editorial procedures is necessary to prevent similar incidents 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 noted.

The Bishops welcomed the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NaCCA) clarification that the approved national curriculum does not include LGBTQ‑related lessons, and commended the Council for withdrawing the material and issuing a revised manual aligned with national norms and values.

However, they maintained 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 added, emphasising 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 an apology and an independent review, they said, reflected the concerns of many Ghanaians and underscored expectations that education policy must remain rooted in the nation’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. The goal, they said, 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 extends 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 recalled 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 implemented to ensure future teacher manuals reflect local cultural standards.

---CitiNewsRoom