Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has proposed a policy requiring individuals to present a National Identity Card or driver’s licence before accessing pornographic websites. The initiative, unveiled at the Fourth Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Values and Sovereignty, is part of broader efforts to shield minors from sexually explicit content and encourage responsible internet use.
He pointed to the United Kingdom’s age‑verification system for adult sites as a model Ghana could adopt to strengthen child protection. ‘We must recognise the dangers posed by pornography. In the UK today, access to such sites requires a driver’s licence to confirm you are 18 years old,’ he explained. The minister stressed that such measures are necessary to address growing concerns about the influence of pornography and the over‑sexualisation of young people.
Cabinet consideration
Sam George revealed that the proposal is expected to be presented to Cabinet for consideration. “We are working towards taking this to Cabinet to ensure that before anyone accesses an X-rated site, they must provide either a driver’s licence or a national ID card. This will help us identify who is accessing such sites and prevent children from being exposed to that content,” he stated. He warned that exposure to sexually explicit material at an early age could negatively affect children’s development, values and decision-making. Fighting for the innocence of Ghanaian children
The minister argued that the fight against Africa is not against adults but against the continent’s children. “The fight against Africa is not against those of us sitting in this room. We were a lost case. The fight is against our children,” he said. He explained that when he and his colleagues introduced the Family Values Bill, one of their key arguments was that they were fighting for the innocence of Ghanaian children.
Our children must be protected and kept safe. Just as we were safeguarded by our parents in an African family setting, we must do the same for our children and grandchildren,” he stated. The minister emphasised that protecting children from inappropriate online content should remain a priority as digital access continues to grow throughout the country.
If approved by the Cabinet, this proposal would make Ghana one of the few African nations to implement mandatory age verification for adult content websites. The policy would require internet users to submit identification documents to confirm they are at least 18 years old before gaining access to X-rated sites. The minister did not provide a timeline for when the proposal will be presented to the Cabinet or when implementation could start.
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Source: GraphicOnline
