GHANA MARKS 2025 WTIS DAY

As part of efforts to promote responsible digital engagement and online safety, the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations organized the 2025 World Telecommunication and Information Society (WTIS) Day on 19th May 2025.

The WTIS Day, celebrated annually, highlights the importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in driving socio-economic development.

The 2025 celebration also marked 160 years of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), under the global theme “Gender Equality in Digital Transformation.”

The event aimed to raise awareness on the need for inclusive digital policies and the promotion of gender equality in the digital space, particularly for women, girls, and vulnerable groups.

The celebration resonated strongly with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), which calls for equal rights and opportunities for all, especially in emerging digital environments.

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, joined the celebration to underscore the Ministry’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable populations in the digital space.

In her remarks, she highlighted the increasing use of the internet among children, especially girls and young women, noting its role in providing access to education, healthcare, markets, entertainment, and socialization. She emphasized that while the internet presents numerous opportunities, it also poses serious risks, including grooming, cyberbullying, and online exploitation.

These risks, she stated, demand greater attention from caregivers, duty-bearers, and government institutions.

The Minister commended the Government for its proactive measures, including the establishment of the National Cyber Security Centre and the appointment of a National Cybersecurity Advisor.

These efforts, she noted, have contributed significantly to the development of a Child Online Protection Framework aimed at ensuring a safer internet environment for children.

She further mentioned that since the launch of the National Safer Digital Campaign in 2018, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has been an active partner. In collaboration with the Ghana Education Service’s Guidance and Counselling Unit, the Ministry has organized sensitization events in selected Senior High Schools, reaching over 7,000 students and teachers.

Additionally, over 40,000 students and teachers across all 16 regions of Ghana were sensitized during the 2024 edition of the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

These efforts are part of a broader national campaign to raise awareness of cybercrime and cybersecurity, with a particular focus on the safe and responsible use of digital technology among children, young people, and women.

Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey concluded by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening legal frameworks and deepening collaboration with the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations to ensure the continued protection of children, women, and girls in the digital age.

Source: MoGCSP