Ghana’s Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has said his ministry has suffered myriads of media attacks in recent times, but remains focused
The Education Minister said the development is a schemed attempt by some media outlets from the political divide to create a bad image for the Ministry.
He was commenting on the recent public uproar about the introduction of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education(CSE) into the school curriculum—following days of countless reports surrounding the SHS placement exercise.
“Some radio and media stations have set up stalls going to catalogue schools that are in a state of disrepair, going to catalogue E-Block Schools that are uncompleted, dramatising issues about placement and putting out outright publications on CSE”, the Minister told reporters in Kumasi.
The latest attack brought the integrity of the Manhyia South Member of Parliament into question when a video footage of him endorsing the CSE to be incorporated into the new curriculum as far back as February this year, went viral on social media after he had held a news conference rubbishing the position held by clergymen against attempts to introduce children as young as five years to lesbians, gays and transgender issues.
Public discourse has since pushed government further to make its position clear particularly after hints by Dr Prempeh and Dr Prince Armah who is the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment that, CSE will be reviewed and reintroduced with aspects sensitive to Ghanaian culture.
But interacting with a section of the media in Kumasi over the weekend, Dr Opoku Prempeh described recent media attacks on his personality as a grand scheme by to make his Ministry look bad in the eyes of the public.
He however said he remains focused.
“We believe that the sunrise will rather expose the diligence that has been done. It will rather open up the meticulous work people in the ministry have done. It will rather open up to show real leadership in that ministry,” he stated.
Over the weekend the President, Nana Akufo Addo spoke bringing finality to the debate.
“Recently, there have been raging debates that Nana Addo government intends to introduce Comprehensive Sexuality Education as part of the curriculum for basic schools and the Free Senior High School Policy to indoctrinate the Ghanaian child. I didn’t introduce [the] policy for school children to be taught practices that are unacceptable and abominable to our cultural values. As I a Christian, it will never happen that I will preside over such a program. Let’s all keep calm because there is no truth in what is being speculated. I will rather plead with you to continually pray for me to gain the wisdom, good health and kindness, to govern this nation”, the President said while engaging faith-based organizations in Kumasi.
By J. Ofori, Daily Mail GH
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