With the expansion of internet accessibility throughout Africa, children find themselves more frequently encountering digital dangers such as online predators and cyberbullying.
Governments across Africa are working diligently to safeguard their young people and equip them with the skills needed to traverse digital environments securely.
New research indicates an increase in digital participation amongst young Africans, where internet use varies considerably from one part of the continent to another.
In Eastern and Southern Africa, over half (65 percent) of children aged 12-17 have accessed the internet in the past three months, though this figure ranges from just 25 percent in Ethiopia to a staggering 81 percent in Namibia, according to Safe Online.
As a result, organizations such as the Ghana Internet Safety Foundation (GISF) are addressing these issues directly, providing education and advocacy to safeguard children in the digital realm.
During an enlightening discussion with
African Currents
,
Emmanuel Adinkra
,
Founder and President of the Ghana Internet Safety Foundation,
he discussed his group's endeavors aimed at safeguarding younger individuals from online dangers and emphasized current projects both within his nation and across Africa to enhance internet safety for every user.
In Ghana, continuous dialogues and efforts are being made to address this issue.
online safety
Instilled or incorporated into the educational program. This poses a significant challenge due to the substantial financial investment required to realize this vision—from developing legal guidelines to crafting and implementing the curriculum until it is finally adopted.
"So, it is a work in progress in Ghana and in most African countries [...]. You can talk about Kenya. You can mention South Africa. You can mention our good brothers in surveillance in Nigeria. They are making very good efforts to deal with COP related issues. Uganda is one, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Egypt, Tanzania, Namibia. All these countries are making good strides in ensuring children are protected," Adinkra noted.
To find out what else our guest had to say, tune in to the
African Currents
podcast, presented by
Sputnik Africa.
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