“I Am Committed to Integrating Ghanaian Family Values into Education” – Naa Momo Lartey

Naa Momo Lartey, the ministerial nominee for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, has vowed to incorporate Ghanaian family values into the country’s educational curriculum if approved.

This pledge came during her vetting session in Parliament on Wednesday, January 22, as part of her broader vision to strengthen cultural values and address pressing social issues.

Lartey, who is deeply passionate about cultural preservation, emphasised that embedding these values in education would provide a strong, sustainable foundation for the younger generation to understand and embrace the norms cherished by Ghanaians.

“As the constitution stands, and as the voices of the people of Ghana have loudly declared, I cannot go against that,” she stated during the vetting. She further explained, “Beyond the enaction of the law, it is crucial to imbibe it into our curricula so that the children will know some of these family values right from the beginning. I think it is more sustainable in addition to a law working.”

Her remarks are set against the ongoing national discourse surrounding the controversial anti-gay bill, known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

This bill, which has garnered both local and international attention, aims to criminalise activities that promote LGBTQ+ lifestyles in Ghana.

Proponents of the bill, including Lartey’s parliamentary colleague, Sam George, argue that the bill reflects the collective moral stance of Ghanaians, a stance that many believe must be safeguarded to protect Ghana’s cultural fabric.

However, while the bill has widespread support from traditional leaders, religious groups, and many Ghanaians, it has sparked significant international criticism, with human rights groups and foreign governments condemning the legislation as a violation of fundamental human rights.