The Minority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament, now comprising members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), held a press conference on Thursday, January 15, 2026, to address the ongoing controversy surrounding the 2025 Senior High School (SHS) Physical Education and Health Teacher Manual produced by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).
Led by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, the Minority strongly condemned the inclusion of content related to gender identity and sexual orientation, which they described as incompatible with Ghanaian cultural values and norms.
Assafuah clarified that such material was absent from previous editions, stating: “There was no introduction of sexual identity in the 2024 manual.” He emphasised that the controversial sections appeared for the first time in the 2025 version, rejecting any attempts to attribute the content to the previous administration.
The caucus called for swift action to protect students, declaring: “There should be an immediate withdrawal of all learning materials containing LGBTQ.” They urged the government and education authorities to enforce the withdrawal without delay, warning that the material risked influencing young minds in ways contrary to national values.
In a sharper demand for accountability, the Minority insisted on leadership changes at NaCCA, citing oversight failures, breach of public trust, and financial losses from printing and distributing the flawed manual. Assafuah stated: “The NaCCA CEO and Board Chair must be dismissed.” The caucus specifically targeted the Director-General, Professor Samuel Ofori Bekoe, and the Board Chairman for alleged negligence in supervising the curriculum development process.
The Minority also encouraged religious leaders, civil society organisations, and stakeholders to thoroughly review the teacher manual to ensure alignment with Ghanaian societal expectations.
The press conference comes days after NaCCA announced the withdrawal and revision of the Year Two Physical Education and Health (Elective) Teacher Manual on January 13-14, 2026, acknowledging that sections on gender identity did not align with Ghanaian culture. A revised version has since been issued, focusing on biological definitions.
The controversy has intensified national debate on curriculum oversight, with calls for a parliamentary probe into the manual’s development, funding, and approval processes. The Minority stressed that educational materials must reflect Ghana’s laws and values, particularly amid ongoing discussions on related legislation.
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