Flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has joined calls from civil society organisations, religious bodies, the Minority, parents and majority of Ghanaians for the government to drop plans of introducing Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) into the curricula of basic schools.

Persons against CSE describe it as “satanic” and a pro-LGBT agenda. Adding his voice to the discussion, Mr Mahama in a Facebook post said: “I fully understand the outrage of the moral society and a large majority of parents, opposing the planned introduction of what government and its partners are calling Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE).

“As noted by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Most Rev. Philip Naameh of the Catholic Bishops Conference, Rev. Dr. Paul Frimpong-Manso and National Chief Imam Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, this addition to the national curriculum cannot be acceptable in any form. Government must immediately withdraw its policy to promote sexuality, sexuality types and practice among young children as the CSE Guidelines implicitly advocates.

“We reject it and note that it is important for Government and all Ghanaians to respect and uphold the enduring values, norms and the rich culture of Ghana. “What Ghana urgently needs is a substantial improvement in quality education, which is accessible and affordable to all.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo) has refuted claims that CSE has been introduced into the curricula of basic schools. Dr Prempeh said in a press statement on Tuesday, 1 October 2019 that: “The curriculum framework (KG-P6) approved by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) for use in the development of school curriculum, which has been approved by Cabinet and published does not include CSE”.

He further noted that: “The curriculum for KG-P6 approved by Cabinet for use in schools and published does not include CSE”. “NaCCA has not approved any material on CSE as it is not included in the approved and published KG-P6 curriculum framework”. The minister also said: “The 152, 000 teachers trained for the new curriculum were not trained to teach CSE”. Additionally, he noted that: “Teacher resource packs developed for teachers to enable them to teach the new school curriculum (KG-P6) do not include CSE”.

He subsequently assured the public that “the government and the ministry will not compromise our societal values in the delivery of quality education”.