Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama, has called for urgent global action to safeguard children online, stressing that while digital technology offers vast opportunities, it also exposes young people to serious risks.
Speaking at the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, Mrs Mahama underscored the need for coordinated international efforts to ensure child safety in the digital age.
Drawing from a personal experience, she recounted receiving messages on social media during Ghana’s 69th Independence Day celebrations, which coincided with her birthday.
“Many came from young people who could not attend our national celebrations. But technology gave them a voice,” she said, highlighting the empowering potential of digital platforms.
She noted the rapid growth of digital access globally, pointing out that a significant portion of internet users are young people. In Ghana alone, millions of users are youth, making digital safety a pressing concern.
Quoting President John Dramani Mahama, she added: “Our children belong to a generation armed with tools that earlier generations could hardly imagine. In their hands, a smartphone becomes a classroom, a business platform, a creative studio, and a gateway to the global economy.”
Despite these opportunities, Mrs Mahama warned of the dangers children face online, including cyberbullying, which she noted can have serious consequences on education and well-being.
She outlined Ghana’s response, including strengthened laws, improved enforcement, and public awareness initiatives such as the Safer Digital Ghana campaign.
The country has also introduced digital literacy programmes in schools and partnered with global technology companies to improve content moderation.
Emphasizing the urgency of the issue, she declared: “Protecting children’s digital futures is our moral duty, our generational responsibility, and our shared global mission.”
The summit brought together global leaders to promote collaboration on child online safety, as countries work to balance digital innovation with protections against emerging threats such as online abuse, disinformation, and exploitation.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
