Eric Edem Agbana, the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, has announced plans to formally petition the Ghana Education Service (GES) to urgently review and remove parts of an educational textbook he says contain “false and dehumanising” material.
According to Agbana, the issue centres on the Aki-Ola Junior High School Social Studies textbook, which he claims includes sections that appear to justify or downplay the harms of colonial rule. In a statement on February 17, 2026, he said he had seen images from the book that suggest Ghana benefited from colonisation, a narrative he strongly rejects.
Agbana described the controversial content as deeply inappropriate given the traumatic impacts of colonisation on Ghana and other African countries. He argued that textbooks should be truthful and respectful of Ghana’s history rather than suggest positive aspects of a period many view as oppressive. The MP noted that the timing of the controversy was especially sensitive as Ghana and other nations pursue global conversations about historical injustices and reparations.
In his planned petition to GES, Agbana will call for the immediate review of the Aki-Ola textbook and the recall of any copies that contain such content. He also urged that the curriculum uphold historical accuracy and dignity, ensuring that children are taught narratives that reflect the reality of their past without distortion.
GES has not yet publicly responded to the MP’s announcement. The matter highlights growing concerns among some lawmakers and education advocates about the accuracy and cultural sensitivity of learning materials used in Ghanaian schools.
