The Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Chamber, John Omo, is calling for stronger legislation to protect children across Africa as internet use continues to grow.
Speaking at the African Child Online Forum, he highlighted the increasing risks children face in the digital space and stressed the urgent need for clear, enforceable laws to ensure their safety.
According to Mr. Omo, while digital access is expanding rapidly across the continent, legal frameworks have not kept pace.
He warned that without robust protections, children remain vulnerable to online threats such as exploitation, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content.
He emphasized that efforts to promote digital inclusion must go hand in hand with strong safeguards, noting that inadequate regulation could leave young users exposed to serious dangers.
Mr. Omo therefore urged governments to prioritise child online protection by developing and enforcing policies that promote safe and responsible internet use.
He added that effective legislation, supported by education and public awareness, is critical to empowering children while keeping them safe online.
He also used the platform to advise children directly, cautioning them against interacting with strangers on the internet.
Such interactions, he warned, could lead to exploitation and other harmful situations.
He encouraged young users to avoid sharing personal information and to report suspicious behaviour to trusted adults.
Mr. Omo further called on governments, stakeholders, parents, and educators to work collaboratively to create a safer digital environment for children across Africa.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of African Child Online, Awo Aidam Amenya, underscored the importance of such forums in helping children understand what content is appropriate for their age.
Awo Aidam Amenya, Executive Director, African Child Online
She noted that children must be guided to recognise that not everything online is trustworthy or suitable, cautioning against blindly accepting or imitating what they encounter in the digital space.
The Acting Executive Director of the Ghana Library Authority, Alhassan Betintiche Ziblim, also stressed the importance of these engagements, stating that they equip children with the knowledge and skills needed to reduce their vulnerability online.
By Kingsley Adusei Amakye 1960news.com
