Haruna Iddrisu slams GNAT President for “sexist and inappropriate” advice to male teachers

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has sharply criticised the President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Reverend Isaac Owusu, over recent remarks in which he urged male teachers to avoid romantic relationships with students and instead “focus their attention” on female colleagues.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Dr. Leonard Kaledzi Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence Education at Anloga on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the Minister described the GNAT President’s comments as “unprofessional, inappropriate, and a form of verbal sexual harassment.”

According to Mr. Iddrisu, such statements are damaging to the teaching profession and contradict the strict ethical standards expected of educators. He warned that the Ministry would not condone any utterance or behaviour that normalises sexual advances in the workplace or trivialises the serious issue of sexual misconduct in schools.

“We will punish any teacher found in any compromising act with a female student because it does not guarantee safety and learning in the environment,” he said. “So, the words of the GNAT President, who advised that male teachers who want to have sexual relations can do it with female teachers — I am reminding him that even that will constitute sexual harassment as it goes against the teaching code of conduct.”

Mr. Iddrisu emphasised that the Ministry is committed to ensuring schools remain safe, professional, and conducive learning spaces for both teachers and students. He said the Education Service Code of Conduct clearly prohibits all forms of sexual advances — whether toward students or fellow staff — without consent, and violations could lead to disciplinary action or dismissal.

He further called on the leadership of GNAT to take immediate steps to clarify and distance the association from Reverend Owusu’s comments, adding that the public must continue to see teachers as role models who embody the highest ethical and moral standards.

Education stakeholders, including gender advocates and teacher unions, have since echoed the Minister’s concerns, describing Reverend Owusu’s statement as “reckless and tone-deaf.” Several groups have also urged the Ministry to strengthen ongoing teacher training and sensitisation programmes on sexual harassment and professional ethics, to prevent future controversies of this nature.

The Education Minister concluded by reaffirming his ministry’s zero-tolerance stance on sexual harassment, stressing that the government’s priority remains the protection and wellbeing of learners at all levels of education.