A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tema Central Constituency has thrown his support behind calls by Child Rights International (CRI) for a ban on social media use by children under the age of 17.
His comments follow a recent CRI study which revealed that children in Ghana spend up to seven hours a day online, exposing them to risks including sexual content, cyber abuse and online exploitation.
The study found that about 80 per cent of children between the ages of five and 12 use digital screens daily, with many spending between two and seven hours on devices, particularly mobile phones. Conducted between March and May 2026, the research surveyed more than 8,000 children across Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani and Tamale.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s Nkosuo Nsem, hosted by Abusua Panyin Mireku, the NDC member warned that Ghana could face serious consequences if urgent measures are not taken.
“If care is not taken, it will be extremely difficult to deal with the problem over the next 15 years,” he cautioned.
He argued that the Constitution recognises 18 as the age at which a person can make certain legal decisions, including voting, provided they are of sound mind. Based on that principle, he believes children under the age of 17 should not be permitted to access social media platforms.
While acknowledging that enforcement has historically been a challenge, he expressed hope that CRI’s recommendation would receive the necessary attention from policymakers and be implemented to better protect children from the growing dangers of the digital space.
By: Bernard Mensah |Planbfmonline.com
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