Ghana partners NYA, others to celebrate World Safer Internet Day 2016

The Safer Internet Day (SID) is a global commemoration of efforts aimed at making the internet a safer and better place for children and young people in more than 100 countries.

SID is part of a global drive by awareness-raising partners to promote a safer and better internet for all users, especially young people. It was initiated under the European Commission’s Safer Internet Programme.

This campaign keeps attracting the needed boost across the globe through the concerted efforts of the European Schoolnet and INHOPE (the International Association of Internet Hotlines).

This year’s theme, “Play your part for a better Internet!” aims to encourage people to act in a manner that highlights the positive opportunities offered online with the needed skills, knowledge and support. Ghana Internet Safety Foundation, GISF is the official representative on the Safer Internet Day Organisation.

To this end, thousands of activities involving young people take places across the globe each year. In the UK, The UK Safer Internet Centre study revealed that 4 in 5 (82%) young people witnessed online hate targeting people or communities because of their gender, transgender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, nationality or religion thereby making it crucial for the creation of a kind and inclusive internet.

In Ghana, the rising culture of online insults and hate speech is a clear and present danger which is eroding the moral fabric of our society with little or no regulation.

Thus, the Ghana Internet Safety Foundation, in collaboration with Facebook, NCA, NYA, YMCA and Hapaweb Solutions organised numerous awareness activities for young people. The day was marked by public sensitization outreach programs by @TeamGISF in Kumasi’s Business District, Adum crowned with a Quiz competition between three renowned junior high educational institutions: Nhyiaeso International School, Headlines Educational Centre and Ridge School.

At a seminar organized for key stakeholders, Board member, Ghana Internet Safety Foundation, Nanabanyin Ninsin Imbeah II, reiterated the indecent language that is currently portrayed on social media.

He cited the correspondence between Honorable Kennedy Agyapong and Afia Schwarzenegger as a bad example the youth should not subscribe to. He also admonished the regulatory bodies to protect and sanitise internet ecosystem to ensure it is devoid of such negative utterances.

In His Keynote Address, Mr. Gaisie of the National Communications Authority said, “Our action and our cooperation are helping us deal with the dark crimes found online. Like more effective reporting and removal of child pornography. But let’s also open up positive experiences for our kids, early on. Give them the right skills and tools, and prepare them for an increasingly digital world”.

“As a key regulator and player in issues of technology, the national communication authority is constantly reviewing and implementing policies that are geared towards ensuring that Ghanaian Digital citizenry enjoy a positive experience”, Mr Gaisie said.

Mr. Emmanuel Adinkrah, CEO, Ghana Internet Safety Foundation elaborated on the need for Government and other relevant stakeholders to help create the awareness about issues of child online protection and most importantly online safety.

He said, the youth need to be taught the positive aspects of internet technology and how they can navigate it to help better their lives.

He said, GISF is ready to partner and work with any organization that shares in the passion and desire to ensure the digital safety of Ghanaians.

Mrs. Christine Nancy Adjei-Glover, a youth counsellor spoke to the students about staying away from negative practices online such as Pornography, 419 scams etc. Mr. George Orwell of the National Youth Authority also emphasized the need for Government to take a key role in child online protection initiatives.

The Q&A session proved useful to pupils who engaged resources persons from the NCA, Social Welfare, YMCA and National Youth Authority

Other guest speakers also elaborated on the relevance of internet in our daily lives but also the need to be cautious of our personal security.

As a followup to 2015, Telecom Giant, Airtel Ghana celebrated this year’s Safer Internet Day with an announcement of its expanded efforts to keep the internet safe for children in Ghana.

He was however quick to point out some of the worst risks children face online such as bullying but called on all stakeholders to prepare young people to adequately deal with such threats.

Nonetheless, he was hopeful that with the needed collaborative support, Ghana’s youthful resource pool would be able to rake in the numerous benefits of the World Wide Web.

As the government’s representative in the region, he briefed participants about the NCA’s commitment to dealing with issues of technology through regulatory policies that favor the creation of a safer internet space for Ghana’s digital citizenry.

The Q&A session proved useful to pupils who engaged resources persons from the NCA, Social Welfare, YMCA and National Youth Authority

The Ghana Internet Safety Foundation expresses appreciation to all who played their part to help make Safer Internet Day Celebration in Kumasi a success and we call on you to support us in order to expand the campaign into a yearlong engagement with stakeholders across the country. Together, we shall make the internet a kind and respectful environment for Ghana’s young digital citizenry.