Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has strongly condemned recent comments made by the President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Rev. Isaac Owusu, who advised male teachers to pursue relationships with single female colleagues instead of students.
Rev. Owusu made the remarks in response to rising cases of teacher–student sexual misconduct that have led to the interdiction of several head teachers across the country. Addressing educators, he said:
“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.”
The statement has triggered public outrage, with many describing it as inappropriate and unprofessional.
Reacting to the controversy, Minister Iddrisu said the comments were “unethical and unprofessional,” warning that they undermine ongoing efforts to safeguard students and uphold discipline within the educational system.
“Rev. Owusu may have intended to discourage misconduct involving students, but his approach was misguided,” the Minister stated. “Any teacher found engaging in sexual relations with a student will face immediate sanctions. Our priority is to ensure that schools remain safe and secure learning environments.”
The Minister further emphasized that even workplace romances between teachers could cross ethical lines if not handled appropriately.
“Rev. Owusu said, ‘If you want to do the thing, do it with female teachers.’ Let me remind him and all educators that such behavior could still amount to sexual harassment in a professional setting. Relationships, if any, must occur outside the workplace and only between consenting adults,” he cautioned.
Reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance stance on sexual misconduct in schools, Mr. Iddrisu warned that any teacher found guilty, whether the misconduct involves a student or a colleague would face severe disciplinary action.
“There are married teachers and clear professional boundaries within the school environment,” he noted. “Such conduct is not only unethical and unprofessional but also damages the image of the teaching profession and undermines the delivery of quality education.”
