By Issah Olegor
The National Democratic Congress Government is considering introducing a controversial digital age-verification policy that could require citizens to present their Ghana Card or driver’s licence before accessing pornographic websites, Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George has revealed.
The proposed measure, which forms part of broader efforts to protect children from explicit online content, is currently being prepared for Cabinet consideration and could significantly alter how adult content is accessed in Ghana.
Speaking at the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values, the Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament disclosed that the government is exploring mechanisms that would compel users to verify their identities before gaining entry to adult websites.
According to the Minister, discussions are underway to ensure that online platforms hosting sexually explicit content implement age-verification systems that can identify users and prevent minors from accessing such material.
“We’re working on 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,” Mr. George stated.
The proposal marks the latest move by the government to tighten regulations surrounding digital content and child online protection.
Authorities argue that unrestricted access to pornography poses serious risks to the psychological and moral development of children and young people.
Sam George referenced developments in the United Kingdom, where authorities have introduced stricter age-verification requirements for access to certain adult websites. He noted that Ghana could adopt similar safeguards as part of efforts to create a safer online environment.
“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 said.
The Communications Minister maintained that early exposure to explicit content can have lasting consequences on children’s behaviour, values, and overall development.
According to him, over-sexualisation at a young age has the potential to distort children’s understanding of relationships, affect their decision-making, and weaken societal values.
“This is the real threat. Because when a child is over-sexualised at an early age, it affects their development, it affects their thinking, it affects even their morality and their values and their standards,” he argued.
The proposal comes against the backdrop of ongoing national conversations about child protection, digital regulation, and family values.
Over the past few years, policymakers, religious organisations, traditional leaders, and civil society groups have expressed growing concerns about the increasing availability of explicit online content to minors through smartphones and social media platforms.
George also linked the initiative to the broader objectives of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
He argued that one of the central motivations behind the legislation is the protection of Ghanaian children and the preservation of what supporters describe as traditional family 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 said.
The Minister stressed that Ghana has a responsibility to preserve its cultural identity and moral values while navigating the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
However, the proposal is already generating debate among policymakers and digital rights advocates. Critics have questioned how such a system would be implemented, whether it could infringe on privacy rights, and how authorities intend to enforce compliance on international websites operating outside the jurisdiction.
The controversy has intensified following comments by Kpandai Member of Parliament Matthew Nyindam, who has publicly suggested that such a proposal may face significant resistance in Parliament.
Others have argued that government should prioritise reducing data costs and expanding internet access rather than focusing on identity verification for adult websites.
Despite the emerging criticism, government officials insist that child online protection remains a national priority. Should Cabinet approve the proposal, Ghana could become one of the first countries in Africa to require national identification verification before accessing adult content online.
The policy, if eventually implemented, would represent a major shift in the digital regulatory framework and could open a wider debate on the balance between child protection, privacy rights, internet freedom, and state regulation of online content.
