Communications Minister, Sam George, says the government is preparing to block minors from adult websites by forcing users to verify their age with a national ID or driver’s licence, a first-of-its-kind move in West Africa.
The proposed policy, which would require anyone trying to access pornographic content to first prove they are at least 18 years old, is set to go before Cabinet soon, George announced at an international parliamentary conference on family values.
“We are working towards taking this to Cabinet to ensure that before anyone accesses an X-rated site, they must provide either a driver’s licence or a national ID card,” he said.
Citing the United Kingdom’s existing age-verification regime, George argued Ghana does not need to “rewrite the script.” The UK system typically requires users to submit identification or use age-verification software before entering adult websites.
“It is important that we understand the danger that we face with pornography,” he told the Fourth Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Values and Sovereignty.
The minister framed the initiative as part of a broader fight for Ghana’s children, not against adults.
“The fight against Africa is not against those of us sitting in this room. We were a lost case. The fight is against our children,” he said.
He recalled that when he and other lawmakers introduced the Family Values Bill, a central argument was protecting the innocence of Ghanaian children.
“Our children must be protected and safe. We were protected by our parents in an African family setting. We must do the same for our children and grandchildren.”
If approved, Ghana would join a small group of African nations, including Kenya and South Africa, which have debated or piloted similar measures to enforce mandatory age checks for adult content.
The policy would apply to internet users seeking access to X-rated sites, requiring them to submit government-issued identification online.
