The University of Ghana has rejected recent allegations suggesting that it has amended its statutes to allow or promote LGBTQ+ activities.

The publication cited remarks made by Moses Foh-Amoaning, an anti-LBGTQ+ advocate, during an interview on Accra-based Onua FM.

In a statement issued by management, the university described the allegations as “entirely false, misleading, and defamatory,” adding that the claims grossly misrepresented the purpose and content of the university’s recent statute revisions.

University Clarifies Nature of Statutory Revisions

According to the university, the 2024 review of its statutes was conducted strictly in line with national legislation and internal regulatory procedures.

Management emphasised that the revised statutes do not, in any way, depart from Ghanaian law, nor do they include any provision that endorses, promotes, or admits LGBT+ activities, as alleged.

Instead, the changes made were linguistic in nature. Gender-specific pronouns such as "he," "him," "she," and "her" were replaced with gender-neutral alternatives, including "they" and "their."

The university explained that these amendments were implemented to avoid repetitive phrasing and to represent both men and women inclusively without altering the substance of the statutes.

The statement noted that the use of singular they/them has become widely accepted in English over the past two decades, reflecting updates across academic, legal, and religious literature.

As an example, the university cited the 2011 New International Version (NIV) Bible, which uses singular they/them in passages such as James 4:17: “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

To demonstrate the limited scope of the amendments, the university offered an example from the statutes:

Previous wording: “A member of Council may resign his or her membership by writing addressed to the Chairperson of the Council.”

Revised wording: “A member of the Council may resign by notice in writing addressed to the Chairperson of the Council.”

Management further disclosed that it had responded to inquiries from the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values in a letter dated November 10, providing the same clarification regarding pronoun usage.

The university also condemned what it described as an “unwarranted” and “disrespectful” attempt by Mr. Foh-Amoaning to personalise an institutional governance matter through an attack on the vice-chancellor.

The statement affirmed that no vice-chancellor has unilateral authority to amend the university’s statutes and highlighted the vice-chancellor’s leadership since assuming office one grounded in humanism, transparency, academic excellence, and accountability. Attempts to impugn her integrity on the basis of unfounded allegations, management stated, were “entirely unacceptable.”

Demand for Retraction and Warning of Legal Action

The university is demanding an immediate retraction of the statements made by Mr Foh-Amoaning, as well as a public apology to the vice-chancellor and the wider university community.

Should he fail to comply within a reasonable timeframe, management warned that the university would be compelled to take appropriate legal action under Ghanaian law to protect its reputation and that of its leadership.

Media Urged to Exercise Responsibility

In addition to addressing the allegations, the university called on GhanaWeb, Onua FM, and all other media organisations to practice responsible journalism, particularly when dealing with sensitive institutional matters.

Management cautioned that the amplification of unverified claims undermines public trust and threatens the integrity of national educational institutions. Media houses were urged to verify such information with the university’s Public Affairs Directorate before publication.

University Reaffirms Commitment to Excellence

The university reaffirmed its dedication to delivering a transformative student experience, producing impactful research, upholding high ethical and academic standards, and fostering a safe, respectful, and lawful environment for its community.

“The University of Ghana remains focused on its vision of achieving global impact through innovative research, teaching, and learning,” management stressed, adding that the institution “will not be distracted by unfounded allegations.”