Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, is pushing for Cabinet approval to introduce strict age-verification measures that will require the use of the Ghana Card before anyone can access pornographic and adult content online.
According to the Minister, the move forms part of broader efforts to protect children from harmful digital content and regulate the growing influence of social media on young people.
“Across all social media platforms, there are a few states in the US that have passed social media laws in the past few weeks, so it’s something that the ministry is monitoring,” Sam George said.
He revealed that his ministry has already initiated policy steps to regulate children’s access to adult content, disclosing that the Cyber Security Authority has been tasked with developing a framework to guide government action.
“This past week, I asked the Cyber Security Authority to draft a policy document, which they have submitted to the ministry, and we are studying it, especially on the use of social media by kids and access to pornographic sites,” he stated.
Sam George said the policy document will be taken to Cabinet for approval, stressing that Cabinet’s endorsement is critical to empowering the ministry to act decisively.
“I’m taking it to Cabinet, and if Cabinet approves it, it will give us the mandate and the authority to instruct all ISPs and telecom companies in the country to do what happens in the UK,” he said.
He explained that the United Kingdom operates a strict regime that compels users to prove they are adults before accessing X-rated or pornographic websites, a model Ghana intends to replicate.
“The UK has a law that mandates that for you to visit any pornographic or adult content site, you need to show proof that you are 18. Previously, most sites just said “click if you are 18.” A five-year-old child or a seven-year-old child will just click that button. Now in the UK, you need to use your driver’s licence to show. That is what we want the Cabinet to approve for us,” he said.
He added that once the Cabinet approves, the ministry will move to enforce compliance across the digital space.
“Once I’m sure the Cabinet will support it, we will direct all ISPs in the country to ensure that unless you submit your Ghana Card for us to authenticate from the NIA database that you are 18 and above, all such sites will be blocked to young people in our country,” he stressed.
Sam George described pornography and adult content as a major social challenge that requires urgent intervention, particularly to protect children.
“Pornography and adult content are a big challenge for us, but we are monitoring the larger social media landscape as well,” he said.
He further disclosed that the ministry has been engaging major global technology companies on content moderation and child safety measures.
“I’ve had meetings with Meta, I’ve had meetings with ByteDance and TikTok about content moderation and time limits for kids. We’re doing a lot of engagements, but eventually, if need be, we will pass legislation,” the Minister warned.
Making it clear that he is prepared to face criticism, Sam George said leadership demands difficult choices.
“I will not run away as minister. I will not run away from taking tough decisions to protect children,” he declared.
He added that failure to act now would amount to a betrayal of future generations.
“They may not like it today, but tomorrow they’ll be grateful that we are in authority today, with the responsibility of taking care of the future of our children, and took action. If we fail to act today, the generation coming behind us will blame us and call us bad leaders. So we will take the tough decisions today,” he said.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
