The Ministry of Education has issued a clarification rejecting allegations that the Minister for Education, Haruna Idrissu, authorised or supervised the production of a controversial teacher manual alleged to contain content on gender identity inconsistent with Ghanaian norms and values.
In a press statement dated January 17, 2026, the Ministry said it had taken note of a publication by the Centre for Democratic Movement which alleged that the Minister authored or approved the Physical Education and Health (Elective) Teacher Manual for SHS Year Two (2024), purportedly containing a definition of gender identity not reflective of Ghanaian cultural values.
“The Ministry described the allegation as “false and entirely without basis.”
The statement, signed by the Minister’s Press Secretary, Hashmin Mohammed, explained that the development and production of the teacher manual occurred before Haruna Idrissu assumed office as Minister for Education. As such, the Ministry stressed that he had no oversight responsibility over the material.
“The development and production of this manual predate the appointment of Haruna Idrissu as Minister for Education. He therefore had no oversight of the said material produced,” the statement clarified.
Providing further context, the Ministry revealed that the curriculum development process began as far back as 2021, under the leadership of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).
The process was supported technically by Transforming Teaching, Education and Learning (T-TEL) following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry and T-TEL. The partnership, according to the statement, was aimed at providing technical advisory services, project management, research support and implementation assistance to improve teaching quality and learning outcomes nationwide.
The Ministry disclosed that the curriculum development exercise was not a closed-door process but a broad-based national effort involving over 300 Ghanaian professionals drawn from secondary schools, colleges of education, universities, and industry practitioners
These contributors were responsible for developing the curriculum and accompanying materials, including Teacher Manuals, Learner Materials and Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Handbooks.
The process, the statement noted, involved rigorous stakeholder engagement both during the writing stage and throughout the trial phases, to ensure professional input and national relevance.
The Ministry further clarified that the only official document produced under the direct leadership of Hon. Haruna Idrissu since he assumed office is the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) handbook.
Crucially, the Ministry stressed that the PLC handbook contains no ambiguity regarding the definition of gender, directly contradicting suggestions that the Minister has presided over any controversial content.
Reaffirming its institutional values, the Ministry pledged its continued commitment to transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to national educational policies and Ghanaian values. It also issued a strong caution to the public and media organisations, urging them to verify information thoroughly before publication in order to prevent misinformation and unnecessary public anxiety.
“The Ministry remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability and strict adherence to national educational policies and values,” the statement concluded.
