Wednesday, 18 February

Edem Agbana to petition GES over colonisation content in Aki-Ola textbook

Education
An Aki-Ola Social Studies textbook

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North, Eric Edem Agbana, has announced plans to petition the Ghana Education Service (GES) for the urgent review and withdrawal of a Junior High School Social Studies textbook he says contains misleading and offensive portrayals of Ghana’s colonial past.

In a statement dated February 17, 2026, Mr Agbana — who also serves on Parliament’s Select Committee on Education — disclosed that he had examined excerpts from the Aki-Ola Series Social Studies textbook currently in circulation.

According to him, portions of the material attempt to highlight what are described as the “benefits” Ghana gained from colonial rule.

The lawmaker strongly criticised the content, arguing that it glosses over the brutality and long-term damage inflicted during the colonial era while presenting a narrative that appears to justify or romanticise foreign domination. 

He maintained that colonialism was marked by exploitation, suppression and the erosion of African identity, and cautioned against presenting interpretations that could distort historical understanding among young learners. 

Mr Agbana indicated that his forthcoming petition will urge the GES to immediately reassess the textbook, withdraw affected copies from schools, and ensure that any content deemed inaccurate or harmful is expunged from the national curriculum.

He stressed that Ghana’s educational materials must reflect historical truth and uphold the dignity of its people, warning that any attempt to sanitise the country’s colonial experience risks misinforming future generations. 

Source: classfmonline.com/Zita Okwang