Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has disclosed that the government is preparing a policy proposal that would require individuals to verify their identity before accessing pornographic websites in Ghana.
Speaking at the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values, the Ningo-Prampram MP said the proposed measure is aimed at protecting children from exposure to explicit online content.
According to Mr George, the policy is currently being developed for Cabinet consideration and could require users to provide a valid national identification card or driver’s licence before gaining access to adult websites.
“We’re working with going to Cabinet on that to make sure that before you access any X-rated site, you must put either your driver’s licence or your national ID card, so that we know who you are and who is going to that site to prevent children from being exposed to such content,” he said.
The Minister cited measures adopted in the United Kingdom as an example of efforts to restrict minors’ access to online pornography.
“Today in the United Kingdom, for you to access a pornographic website, you need to put your driver’s licence for them to be able to determine that you are 18 years,” he stated.
Mr George argued that unrestricted access to pornography at a young age can have adverse effects on children’s development, influencing their values, behaviour and decision-making processes.
“This is the real threat. Because when a child is oversexualised at an early age, it affects their development, it affects their thinking, it affects even their morality and their values and their standards,” he said.
He explained that the proposal forms part of broader efforts to strengthen child protection measures in the digital space and preserve what he described as African family values.
During his address, the Communications Minister also reaffirmed his support for the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
According to him, one of the key objectives of the proposed legislation is to safeguard children and uphold societal values.
“When my colleagues and I in Ghana introduced the Family Values Bill, one of our key arguments has been that we’re fighting for the innocence of Ghanaian children because our children must be protected,” he stated.
Mr George maintained that Ghana has a responsibility to protect future generations and preserve the cultural and family values that underpin the country’s social fabric.
The proposed policy is expected to form part of ongoing discussions on online safety, digital regulation and child protection as the government considers measures to strengthen safeguards within Ghana’s digital ecosystem.
