Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, is set to petition the Ghana Education Service (GES) over concerns about how colonisation is presented in the widely-used Aki-Ola textbook series.
Agbana announced his intention to petition the education regulator on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, arguing that the textbook content presents a skewed narrative of Ghana's colonial history that may not adequately reflect the violence, exploitation, and resistance that characterized the colonial experience.
The Aki-Ola textbooks, particularly the "Aki-Ola Series" for English language and literature, have been staple materials in Ghanaian schools for decades. However, they have faced periodic criticism for outdated content and perspectives that some educators argue do not align with contemporary pedagogical standards and historical understanding.
Agbana's intervention adds a political dimension to ongoing debates about curriculum content and the decolonisation of education in Ghana. Critics of existing textbooks argue that many materials still reflect colonial mindsets and fail to adequately center Ghanaian and African perspectives.
"We cannot continue to teach our children a sanitised version of our own history," Agbana said. "The textbook must reflect the realities of colonisation — the exploitation, the resistance, and the full complexity of our past.
"The petition, when filed, will call on GES to review the textbook's content and consider alternative materials that provide a more comprehensive and critical examination of colonial history.
Education experts have welcomed the initiative, noting that curriculum review is essential for ensuring that Ghanaian students receive an education that is both historically accurate and culturally relevant.