Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has stated that the definition of sex within Ghana’s education system must be based strictly on biology, with no room for differing interpretations.
According to him, sex should refer only to a person’s biological makeup at birth.
Speaking at a teacher training workshop on the Ghanaian Youth Handbook and the implementation of the Guidance and Counselling framework at Ghana Senior High School in Tamale on Thursday, January 15, 2026, the Minister said clarity on the issue was necessary to protect national values and ensure consistency in teaching materials.
His comments come amid public debate over the appearance of gender identity concepts in some educational manuals, which critics say promote ideas that do not align with Ghanaian cultural norms.
Mr Iddrisu explained that such inconsistencies had caused concern among parents, teachers, and the wider public.
“There should be no ambiguity whatsoever regarding the definition of a man and a woman as biological sex, and sex means biological sex at birth,” he said.
The Minister noted that Ghana’s social norms and cultural values recognise sex as determined at birth, and these principles must guide how learners are taught.
He stressed that schools play a critical role in shaping young minds and should reflect values that families and communities identify with.
Mr Iddrisu disclosed that the Ministry of Education has already taken steps to address the issue by correcting affected learning materials.
He added that all future publications by the Ministry and the Ghana Education Service must follow the same standard.
He further revealed that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment had reviewed the matter and concluded that portions of a teacher manual did not reflect Ghanaian values.
As a result, printed copies of the affected material have been recalled, while a revised version has been made available online.
The Education Minister said the guiding question for policymakers remains what is best for Ghanaian learners, teachers, and society as a whole.
