Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has announced a proposed policy that would require Ghanaians to present a National Identification Card or driver’s licence before accessing pornographic websites, in a bid to shield minors from sexually explicit online content.
Speaking at the Fourth Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Values and Sovereignty, the minister said the government is actively considering the measure as part of broader efforts to promote responsible internet use and protect children from harmful digital material.
He pointed to the United Kingdom’s age-verification regime for adult websites as a potential model for Ghana.
“It is important that we understand the danger that we face with pornography. We don’t need to rewrite the script. Today, in the United Kingdom, for you to access a pornographic website, you need to provide your driver’s licence so they can determine that you are 18 years old,” George said.
The minister argued that such steps have become urgent due to growing concerns over the impact of pornography and the over-sexualisation of young people.
He revealed that the proposal is expected to be submitted to the 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.
Mr Nartey George warned that early exposure to sexually explicit material could negatively affect children’s development, values, and decision-making. He framed the initiative as part of a larger continental struggle.
“The fight against Africa is not against those of us sitting in this room. We were a lost cause. The fight is against our children,” he said, adding that when he and colleagues introduced the Family Values Bill, a key argument was the defence of Ghanaian children’s innocence.
“Our children must be protected and safe. We were protected by our parents in an African family setting. We must do the same for our children and grandchildren.”
He stressed that protecting children from inappropriate online content must remain a priority as digital access expands nationwide.
If approved by Cabinet, the policy would make Ghana one of the few African nations to mandate age verification for adult content websites, requiring users to submit identification documents to confirm they are at least 18 years old.
The minister, however, did not provide a timeline for the Cabinet presentation or potential implementation.
