ISOC Ghana empowers over 900 participants in online safety outreach

Correspondence from the Bono Region

The Internet Society Ghana Chapter (ISOC) has organised a three-day NexGen Online Safety Outreach Project in the Eastern Region for teachers and students of Oyoko Methodist and Kpone Community Day Senior High Schools.

Also part of the project were some youth groups at Begoro, in an effort to cultivate safe and responsible online practices among young people.

More than 900 participants were taken through hands-on training that emphasised spotting scams, maintaining privacy, using strong passwords, making safe digital choices, the risks associated with careless online behaviour, as well as a keynote on digital footprints.

Participating students used the opportunity to talk about their online experiences, demonstrating a deep and practical understanding of safe digital habits, testimonies that reflected how the lessons from the outreach were already influencing their behaviours, and a real-life example that underscored the immediate impact and relevance of the training.

In her opening remarks, the President of the ISOC Ghana Chapter, Maud Ashong Elliot, emphasised that the core mission of the association is to help shape a new generation of smart, secure, and responsible digital citizens noting that as technology evolves rapidly, young people must be equipped not only with digital skills but also with the awareness and discipline needed to navigate the online world safely.

“Our mission is to nurture a new generation of smart, secure, and responsible digital citizens because, as technology evolves at a rapid pace, it is crucial that young people gain not only the technical skills but also the awareness and discipline needed to navigate the online world safely,” she said.

She underscored ISOC Ghana’s commitment to continuing its efforts to empower young people with safe online practices and reminded participants of the critical importance of staying safe online.

She also urged them to take proactive steps towards protecting their privacy and safeguarding their personal information, as every post, click, and interaction leaves a digital footprint.

Speakers like Dr Seth Alornyo, Cyber Security Expert and a Lecturer, Mr Gabriel Ofori Appiah, Director of Operations, Outreach and Awareness, Ghana Internet Safety Foundation and Dr Justice William Asare, Patron of the Koforidua Technical University Campus Chapter, briefed participants on how to navigate the digital space with greater caution and confidence.

They also underscored the need for users to limit the amount of personal information they share online and to adopt stronger security measures to protect their privacy in an increasingly connected world, respectively.

The NexGen Online Safety Outreach by ISOC Ghana signals the continuation of efforts to educate young people across the country on navigating the digital world safely and responsibly.