Ranking Member on Parliament’s Information and Communications Committee, Matthew Nyindam, has called on the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, to prioritise reducing data costs and improving access to digital services rather than pursuing what he described as controversial policy initiatives.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Thursday, June 4, Mr Nyindam argued that Ghanaians expected the government to deliver tangible improvements in the digital sector, particularly in areas affecting the cost of communication and access to technology.
“We must get serious in this country. People queued to vote for the NDC and for the minister to come and serve them better. We have a lot of concerns under his ministry, and I will appeal to him to focus more on how best we can reduce data, how best we can make phone calls affordable and move away from the kind of things that he’s been saying,” he said.
His comments follow the Communications Minister’s announcement that the government is preparing a policy proposal that would require users to verify their identity before accessing pornographic websites in Ghana.
Mr George has argued that the proposed measure is intended to protect children from exposure to explicit online content and aligns with measures being adopted in some other jurisdictions.
However, Mr Nyindam questioned the relevance of the proposal, arguing that it does not address the immediate concerns of most Ghanaians.
“Today, he goes out there and he says that he’s trying to bring a proposal to Parliament or even Cabinet that adults who want to access pornographic websites identify themselves with their ID cards. What are the benefits to the ordinary Ghanaian? I want to go and watch a pornographic film somewhere, and you, as a minister, your concern is that you want to identify the person who is going to that website. And what is the benefit to the ordinary Ghanaian who queued to vote for him?” he asked.
The lawmaker maintained that the ministry should instead focus on key digital development priorities, including reducing the cost of internet access, creating opportunities for young people in the technology sector and implementing flagship programmes promised by the government.
“The young men who voted for him, the one million coders they’ve promised—how far has he been able to do that?” he questioned.
Mr Nyindam also criticised what he described as delays in the introduction of legislative reforms promised by the ministry.
“He has promised to bring 15 bills to Parliament; as we speak, not even a single bill is in Parliament,” he stated.
He urged the ministry to concentrate on policies that provide direct and measurable benefits to citizens, arguing that issues such as affordable data services, job creation and digital skills development should remain at the forefront of the government’s agenda.
According to Mr Nyindam, addressing these concerns would have a more meaningful impact on the lives of Ghanaians than proposals he believes divert attention from the sector’s most pressing challenges.
