The CSE Controversy; Are Ghanaians Tolerant Or Just Plain Inconsiderate Of Others With A Vastly Different Outlook On Life?

Mercifully, the uproar over the Comprehensive Sexuality Education has somehow ebbed; those vociferous conservative voices that rose up and shouted from the rooftops have retreated to the background and the President has reassured the country that under his watch the CSE won’t be part of the curriculum in basic schools.

But the president’s assurance has not dented the bad feeling among Ghanaians about the CSE. The controversy continues to dominate conversations around the country.

Suffice it to say Ghanaians are still up in arms, fuming, angry that their government had the sheer audacity to contemplate the idea of incorporating the much debated CSE into the school system.

There is no proof or hard evidence, however that the government harbored this intention dubious as it is, to introduce Ghanaian children to what many critics vehemently maintain is a debased and perverse form of sexual education.

While I hesitate to pin the rap on the government, to blame it entirely for generating the CSE controversy, I cannot help but wonder why it readily accepted the CSE idea which I understand originated from an overseas benefactor who had doled out huge sums of money to governments in Africa.

The NPP’s administration’s failings in this regard are glaring. In the first place, it did not take into consideration the fact the Ghanaian society is overwhelmingly conservative and any sign that the government in cahoots with its overseas partners is trying to force a foreign concept down the throats of citizens will surely be resisted.

And secondly, the government should have done the one basic thing responsible governments do — float a trial balloon — that is, conduct focus groups around the country and ask Ghanaians if the CSE is the way to go.

If the answer is positive, then the project could go ahead. However, if the answer is an emphatic no, of course, the project would have to be discarded.

Sadly, the government’s approach was boneheaded and massively off base. It was caught with its pants down, compelling the President, Mr. Akuffo Addo to backpedal.

While Mr. Addo did not exactly capitulate or throw in the towel so to speak on CSE, he nonetheless admitted the folly of his government’s decision to allow itself to be talked into considering introducing CSE in the curriculum.

Meanwhile, those who led the charge against the CSE idea should not ride into the sunset gleeful that they have succeeded in getting the government to rethink its position on the subject.

Yes, Ghana, is by and large conservative, but that does not in the least mean Ghanaians are not tolerant.

We can be conservative and still be considerate of those whose outlook on life is vastly different from ours.

After all, we are known around the world for our tolerance; let us not lose sight of this important fact.