MoE slams GNAT President over comment for teachers to date colleagues not students

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has condemned a comment made by the President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Reverend Isaac Owusu, saying male teachers should date their female colleagues rather than female students.

“We are pleading with our male teachers: if you have that desire, we have beautiful women and single ladies among our staff and in our communities,” Rev. Owusu has reportedly said.

However, the Education Minister has described the comment as “unethical and unprofessional,” stressing that it undermines the Ministry’s commitment to promoting discipline and safeguarding students in schools.

“The GNAT President may have sought to respond to inappropriate conduct between teachers and learners, but his approach was wrong. Any teacher attempting to take advantage of a student will be sanctioned. We are determined to ensure that schools remain safe and secure learning environments,” Mr. Iddrisu said.

The Minister in Charge of Education also warned that romantic advances toward colleagues within the workplace could constitute sexual harassment and would not be tolerated.

“In the words of Rev. Isaac Owusu, he said, if you want to do the thing, do it with female teachers. I want to remind him that even such conduct can amount to sexual harassment within the professional setting, and that too is unacceptable. If you must, it should be outside the workplace and only with consenting adults,” he stated.

Mr. Iddrisu emphasized that the government remains committed to enforcing ethical standards in the education sector. He warned that any teacher found guilty of sexual misconduct, whether involving students or colleagues, would face severe disciplinary action.

“There are married teachers within the school environment. Such behaviour is unethical, unprofessional, and unacceptable. It undermines the integrity of the teaching profession and the delivery of quality education,” the Minister added.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu’s advice follows the Ghana Education Service (GES) interdiction of  Charles Akwasi Aidoo, the Assistant Headmaster of KNUST Senior High School, for fondling the breast of a female student.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has prohibited the Assistant Headmaster (Academic) of KNUST SHS from entering the school premises while thorough investigations are conducted into the allegations.

The Ghana Education Service (GES), in a statement, reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of the teaching profession and emphasized that misconduct of any kind would not be tolerated.

Relatedly, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, speaking at the 2025 Ghana Teacher Prize (GTP), has warned that teachers who abuse students will be dealt with

“As teachers, we must always remember that we are placed in a position of trust, protection, and empathy. The power given to us is to facilitate learning

“We will not wait to apply sanctions to those who violate this trust. Transfers are not punishments and should never be used for those who abuse our children, betray their trust, and disgrace our profession,” she said.

The Vice President also expressed concern about increasing incidents of violence and indiscipline in schools and said the central government will not tolerate attacks on teachers either.

“The Ministry of Education and the leadership of the education services will deal decisively with attacks on our teachers, especially physical assault,” she declared, adding that it takes a whole community to support teachers as they shape the country’s future leaders.