NCA urged to protect Children against cyber crimes

NCA urged to protect Children against cyber crimes
Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot

Accra, May 18, Ghanadot - The Minister of Communications, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu has challenged the National Communications Authority (NCA) to act as matter of urgency to ensure that all internet cafe operators in the country do put in place a policy of protecting child privacy.

Such a policy should protect the children from cyber crimes as well as stop them from using the internet to do “sakawa” businesses.

To this end, he hinted that the “Government would be forced to abrogate most licenses of the operators in the country if these directives are not being followed”.

The Minister of Communications made this known to mark this year’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Telecommunication/Information Society Day celebrations in Accra.

The theme for the was “Protecting children in cyberspace” and is being celebrated annually by ITU member countries worldwide.

He observed that the country was currently faced with cyber crime activities fueled by so called spiritual influences popularly known in Ghana as “Sakwa”. He added that his "appeal to young ones is to put the internet to positive use”.

This is against the backdrop that the government is galvanizing forces to protect the Ghanaian children from the harmful effects of the internet, Mr. Iddrisu indicated.

He condemned that, any tool of ICT for criminal purposes was clearly not acceptably to the development of the country.

Mr. Iddrisu was happy to say that, government was committed to a rapid expansion of ICT infrastructure in the areas of governance, commerce, education, health and overall development of the country, adding that “Emphasis is being placed on broad band infrastructure to provide sufficient capacity in the country”.