The Office of the National Chief Imam (ONCI) in collaboration with the Tijjaniya Muslims of Ghana, the Islamic Peace and Security Council of Ghana (IPASEC), the Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian Services (ICODEHS), the Islamic Research Association of Ghana and the Association of the 16 Regional Chiefs Imams, have kicked against proposed plans to introduce Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) at primary schools in the country.

There are fears that the CSE being pursued is aimed at promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights among children through the school curricula.

Christian groups and Ghanaians have kicked against the move.

Adding their voice to the opposition, the various Islamic groups said in a joint statement that: “We would like to state unequivocally that the Islamic community does not accept any form of educating minors and pupils on sexuality. In our estimation, such a move is an attempt to hide behind educational reforms to brainwash the pupils with LGBT agenda.

“Ideally, Islamic jurisprudence recommends that sexual education be introduced to children above the age of 10. This is the time the children are expected to begin to understand the socio-moral consequences of the choice of sex orientation.

“We, therefore, urge the sector ministry and GES to consider a broad consultation with relevant stakeholders on the implementation of the controversial policy,” the office of the National Chief Imam said.

“We appeal to the ministry and GES to drop that satanic agenda in the interest of national cohesion and moral promotion,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has refuted suggestions that the CSE being pursued is aimed at promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in the country.

The GES further added that certain additions to the CSE manual has not been approved by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) hence the materials that have been heavily circulated on social media are yet to be authorised to be taught in schools.

A press release by the Head of Public Relations at the Ghana Education Service (GES), Cassandra Twum Ampofo, on Monday, 30 September 2019, said: “Indeed, on the 29 of April 2019, the Ghana Education Service wrote to the Acting Executive of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to request the insertion of the phrase ‘within the acceptable cultural values and norms of the Ghanaian society’ in the third objective of page 3 of the CSE guidelines in circulation. The insertion has not been made yet and, therefore, GES has not finally approved the CSE guidelines being discussed on various media platforms”.

The release explained that “the new standard-based curriculum being implemented has nothing to do with LGBT issues, masturbation or explicit display/labelling of intimate body parts” as being suggested by some anti-LGBT campaign groups, the clergy and a section of the public.