Naa Momo Lartey: Gender Minister-Designate pledges to integrate Ghanaian values into education system
The Minister-Designate for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has pledged to prioritise the inclusion of Ghanaian family values in the country’s educational system if confirmed for the role.
She emphasised that this initiative would help establish a strong and sustainable foundation for the younger generation.
Naa Momo Lartey, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for the Krowor Constituency, outlined her vision during her vetting session in Parliament on Wednesday, 22 January. Her plan aims to strengthen cultural values and address key social issues in Ghana.
She argued that incorporating traditional family values into education would enable the youth to better understand and embrace societal norms and cultural principles cherished by Ghanaians.
Her comments come amid an ongoing national debate surrounding the controversial Anti-Gay Bill, formally known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
“As the constitution stands, and as the voices of the people of Ghana have loudly declared, I cannot go against that,”** she affirmed during her vetting.
“Beyond the enactment of the law, the goal is to integrate these values into our curricula so that children learn about these family principles from the very start. I believe this approach is more sustainable, in addition to the law being effective,” she added.
The Ghanaian Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, introduced in Parliament in 2021 by a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, aimed to reflect what its supporters described as the collective moral values of Ghanaians.
The bill proposed severe penalties for individuals and groups advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, as well as those involved in same-sex relationships or supporting such causes.
The bill garnered widespread support from some Ghanaians, who viewed it as a crucial measure to protect the country’s cultural and moral integrity. However, it was not passed before the dissolution of the 8th Parliament.