Cybersecurity Authority proposes ban on minors accessing adult content sites

The Cybersecurity Authority (CSA) has submitted a policy proposal to restrict persons under the age of 18 from accessing adult and pornographic content online.

The proposal is currently under review by the Ministry of Communications, Minister Sam George has disclosed.

Speaking to the media on December 12, 2025, the minister said the move is part of the government’s broader efforts to regulate children’s internet use and protect them from harmful online content.

According to him, several countries have already taken similar steps, citing Australia’s decision to restrict social media use for children aged 14 to 16, as well as recent social media laws passed in some US states.

“Australia has banned social media for kids under the ages of 14–16. A few US states have also passed social media laws in recent weeks. The ministry is monitoring this closely. We asked the Cybersecurity Authority to draft policy documents, which they have submitted, and we are studying children’s use of social media and access to pornographic sites,” he said.

Sam George explained that the proposal will be presented to Cabinet for approval, and once approved, it will empower the ministry to direct internet service providers (ISPs) and telecommunications companies to enforce the restrictions nationwide.

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“I’m taking it to Cabinet, and if it approves, it will give the mandate and authority to instruct all ISPs and telecom companies in the country,” he noted.

He also referenced the United Kingdom’s age-verification laws for adult content, noting that stricter measures are now in place. Previously, users could simply click a button to confirm they were 18, but now verification requires presenting official identification, such as a driver’s license.

“The UK mandates that to visit any pornographic or adult sites, you need to prove you are 18. Previously, most sites just asked users to click a button, which a child could easily bypass. This is the system we want Cabinet to approve for Ghana,” he said.

The minister revealed that Ghana plans to adopt a similar system, requiring users to authenticate their age using the Ghana Card.

“Hopefully next year, it will be laid before Cabinet. Once approved, we will direct all ISPs in the country to ensure that users must submit their Ghana Card for authentication from the NIA database to confirm they are 18 or older,” he added.

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