Deputy Chief of Staff, Stan Dogbe, has defended the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, amid criticism over a proposed policy that would require users to verify their identity before accessing adult websites in Ghana.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Mr Dogbe said the proposed measure is intended to protect children from exposure to explicit online content and should not be viewed as an attack on the freedoms of adults.
The proposal was announced by Sam George, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, during the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values. Under the proposed policy, users may be required to provide a valid national identification card or driver’s licence before gaining access to adult websites.
Responding to concerns that the initiative reflects misplaced priorities by the Communications Minister, Mr Dogbe dismissed the criticism, insisting that efforts to safeguard children online fall squarely within the responsibilities of government.
“Protecting children from inappropriate content does not make a minister inefficient, nor does it reflect a misunderstanding of his duties,” he stated.
According to him, the policy is specifically designed to prevent minors from accessing explicit material and would not stop adults from viewing content that is legal under Ghanaian law.
Mr Dogbe argued that children should be shielded from exposure to pornographic and other age-inappropriate material online, stressing that governments have a duty to create safeguards against such exposure.
He noted that while adults may hold different views about explicit content, children require protection from material that could negatively affect their development.
The Deputy Chief of Staff also pointed to international examples, saying several countries around the world have introduced age-verification and online safety measures to prevent minors from accessing harmful content.
He urged the public to view the proposal as a child protection initiative rather than a restriction on adult freedoms, adding that the government’s focus is to ensure a safer digital environment for young people.
