Minister of Communications, Digital Expertise and Innovation Samuel Ngāti-George has proposed a coverage that may require people to indicate a nationwide identification card or driver’s license earlier than accessing pornographic web sites, as a part of efforts to stop minors from viewing sexually express content material on-line.
Talking on the Fourth Inter-Parliamentary Convention on Households, Values and Sovereignty, the minister stated the federal government was contemplating the coverage as a part of a broader effort to guard minors from dangerous digital content material and promote accountable web use.
He cited the UK’s age verification system for grownup web sites as a mannequin Ghana might undertake to strengthen youngster safety measures.
“It is vital to grasp the risks dealing with porn. There isn’t any have to rewrite the script. At present, within the UK you must present your driving license to entry pornographic web sites, which permits us to show you are 18 years outdated,” he stated.
The minister argued that such measures have been needed attributable to considerations in regards to the affect of pornography and the hypersexualization of younger folks.
Cupboard consideration
Sam George revealed that the proposal might be submitted to Cupboard for consideration.
“We’re working to convey this to Cupboard to require anybody to current a driving license or nationwide ID card earlier than accessing grownup websites. It will assist us establish who’s accessing such websites and forestall kids from being uncovered to their content material,” he stated.
He warned that publicity to sexually express materials at an early age can have a detrimental affect on a toddler’s growth, values and decision-making.
Combating for the innocence of Ghana’s kids
The minister insisted that the struggle towards Africa was not towards adults, however towards the continent’s kids.
“The combat towards Africa will not be towards us sitting on this room. Now we have misplaced. The combat is towards our youngsters,” he stated.
He defined that when he and his colleagues launched the Household Values Invoice, certainly one of their key arguments was that they have been combating for the innocence of Ghana’s kids.
“Our kids have to be protected and secure. We have been protected by our dad and mom in our African house setting. We should do the identical for our youngsters and grandchildren,” he added.
The minister stated defending kids from inappropriate on-line content material ought to stay a precedence as digital entry continues to broaden throughout the nation.
If the proposal is permitted by the cupboard, Ghana will develop into one of many few African international locations to require age verification on grownup content material web sites. The coverage requires web customers to supply identification to confirm they’re 18 years of age or older earlier than accessing grownup websites.
The minister didn’t present a timeline for when the proposal can be submitted to Cupboard or when implementation would start.
