Okudzeto Ablakwa requests Education Minister to explain ‘offensive Ewe’ textbooks in Parliament

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The North Tongu MP has filed an urgent request in Parliamentary for the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum to answer to newly-authored history textbooks titled ‘History of Ghana’.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in a Facebook post on Sunday stated that the book contains “bigoted publications” targeted at denigrating the Ewe ethnic group.

Describing the publication as “offensive, divisive and incendiary” the former Deputy Education Minister stated that it was important for the Education Minister to answer some questions relating to the development before students in schools get polluted with them.

Revealing the content of the question he has filed, he outlined, “To ask the Honourable Minister responsible for Education whether the publications titled: History of Ghana, Text Book 3 by Badu Nkansah Publications authored by Badu Nkansah and Nelly Martinson Anim and Golden English Basic 4 authored by Okyere Baafi Alexander both of which contain bigoted content targeted at the Ewe ethnic group have come to his Ministry’s attention.

“Were they approved by any of his Ministry’s agencies and what steps Government is taking to purge our schools and bookshops from offensive, divisive and incendiary publications of this nature?”

The aforementioned textbooks have generated a public uproar since portions of them went viral on social media over the weekend.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-2500680891621702&output=html&h=250&slotname=7074810865&adk=2626372942&adf=2730062515&pi=t.ma~as.7074810865&w=300&lmt=1615965060&psa=1&format=300×250&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myjoyonline.com%2Fokudzeto-ablakwa-requests-education-minister-to-explain-offensive-ewe-textbooks-in-parliament%2F&flash=0&wgl=1&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTAuMCIsIng4NiIsIiIsIjg5LjAuNDM4OS44MiIsW11d&dt=1615965056944&bpp=7&bdt=1926&idt=3663&shv=r20210315&cbv=r20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Ded54e6bb9a989981-22c0a4cc9ba60096%3AT%3D1610315974%3ART%3D1610315974%3AS%3DALNI_Mbw_Eug1d_8CNPYXRYslvEmgPvzTw&correlator=7912293866303&frm=20&pv=2&ga_vid=1750053637.1608340317&ga_sid=1615965061&ga_hid=684210303&ga_fc=0&u_tz=0&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=864&u_w=1536&u_ah=824&u_aw=1536&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=626&ady=2068&biw=1526&bih=666&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44737536&oid=3&pvsid=1634773984069444&pem=384&rx=0&eae=0&fc=896&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1536%2C0%2C1536%2C824%2C1536%2C666&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CleEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=8192&bc=31&ifi=1&uci=a!1&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=lp6SesQCeS&p=https%3A//www.myjoyonline.com&dtd=3693

The Deputy National Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edem Agbana has revealed his intention to organise a demonstration against it.

Meanwhile, the publisher of the History of Ghana textbook, Badu Nkansah has rendered an unqualified apology to Ghanaians.

According to the company, although the book had satisfied most of the technical content requirements, NaCCA has informed them to work on certain aspects of the book in order for it to meet the expectations of the new curriculum.

“Unfortunately, while undergoing the review, a limited quantity of the unpublished draft found its way into the market. We have seen certain snapshots on social media which has generated justified public uproar due to their offensive tone.

“Though it is not a deliberate attempt to berate such a huge section of our society, we wish to unreservedly apologise for the slip. Our brand stands for national unity, and we currently employ workers who originate from all parts of the country.”

The firm also said it is investigating how the few copies found their way into the market.