Ghana Internet Safety Foundation (GISF) and Praesidio Safeguarding UK have joint forces to combat Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and online harms in Ghana.
This partnership aims to equip Ghanaian parents with the necessary skills and knowledge to safeguard their children’s digital activities.
Why it matters
As of January 2024, 24.06 million individuals were using the internet in Ghana according to Statista. This represents an internet penetration rate of approximately 70%.
The growth is attributed to the widespread use of mobile devices in the country as mobile connections were approximately 38.95 million in 2024 representing 113% of the population.
The high adoption of the internet isn’t the problem. The risks it presents is, especially the ones targeting vulnerable children.
Research conducted in 2017 by UNICEF on child online activities in Ghana found that:
- 2 out of 10 children between the ages of nine (9) and seventeen (17) have received sexual messages in words, pictures, or videos through social network sites.
- 4 out of 10 children have seen sexual images online.
- 2 out of 10 children have met someone face to face that they became familiar with on the internet.
- 4 out of 10 children do not feel safe on the internet.
- 5 out of 10 children have had upsetting experiences while online.
A study by GISF shows that 46.45% of schools include online safety in their curriculum. What is alarming is the fact that only 18.18% of schools actively engage parents in safeguarding students from online threats.
Whatever the case is, parents cannot be blamed much. Some parents aren’t tech-savvy — they lack knowledge of privacy, age restrictions and how to even block or report on social media.
These, among others, paint a comprehensive picture of the gaps present in Ghana’s digital safety. The collaboration between the Ghana Internet Safety Foundation (GISF) and Praesidio Safeguarding UK are ongoing efforts to fill those gaps.
Details of the partnership
Emmanuel Adinkra, Founder and CISO of GISF, via an online interview with Top Tech, emphasized the project is nationwide and is open to all parents irrespective of their technical background.
“We understand the digital divide, especially in Ghana, so our methodologies are adaptable to parents with technical knowledge and those who are a little bit skilled,” he said.
“Our program is nationwide and we have an existing relationship with the NCPTA; they are our very strong allies and partners. We have done a lot of programs with them since they have an agreement with them,” he added.
According to him, this project is going to be a hybrid one although earlier projects were delivered in person. The dissemination of knowledge and training will employ diverse channels under this project with Praesidio Safeguarding UK .
“Under this particular project is a hybrid but outside this project we do grassroots. Our grassroots approach is very unique in a way that we are able to go down to the community level to interact with the parents and we use a lot of volunteers as we are an NGO and we don’t have the financial muscle”
“We do have developed curriculum, tools, and resources that we use to empower parents”
“Our strategies are embedded in our methodologies which is critical based on a lot of research we have done over the years and best practices across the globe”
“GISF is the only member with the Government of Ghana as part of the We Protect Global alliance and that global alliance allows us to adopt best practices in our activities”
Why are parents the target and the role of digital parenting?
Parents have a role to play in ensuring their children’s safety as they navigate the internet. Moreover, there is a high chance their children’s device came as a result of their hard-earned money.
That said, ensuring their children’s safety on the internet is non-negotiable, making them the ideal target for this project.
Children may face all forms of cyberattacks such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and harassment that could torture their mental and emotional stability. Parents must step in to protect their children.
The bottom line
The internet is here to stay as evident in the pace at which technology is rising and its adoption rate.
GISF, in collaboration with Praesidio Safeguarding UK are keen to support parents, without or without technological knowledge, to protect their children’s digital safety.
It will be in the best interest of parents if they participate in this exercise to become equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to strive and safeguard their children in this digital era.
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