Minority member on Parliament’s Communications Committee and MP for Kpandai, Matthew Nyindam, has urged Communications Minister Sam Nartey George to focus on reducing the cost of mobile data and improving internet access rather than pursuing a proposed policy that would require users to verify their identity before accessing pornographic websites.
His remarks follow comments by Sam George that the government is considering introducing mandatory age and identity verification measures for access to adult content platforms as part of efforts to protect children from harmful online material.
Nyindam argued that the proposal was unlikely to gain support in Parliament and questioned its relevance at a time when many Ghanaians are grappling with the high cost of internet services.
“Such a bill will not come to Parliament. It will not even come to Parliament because if it comes to Parliament, it may not even fly,” he said.
Nyindam maintained that Parliament should focus on legislation that addresses the immediate needs of citizens rather than regulating the online activities of consenting adults.
“I don’t think members on the Majority side will support it. There are more pressing issues confronting Ghanaians than asking adults to show their Ghana Card before accessing certain websites,” he stated.
The Kpandai MP further questioned the rationale for requiring identification to access adult content, insisting that such matters should not become a legislative priority.
“If some adults decide that they want to watch a pornographic show, must it be a headache for Parliament to pass a law that says you must identify yourself with your ID card?” he asked.
According to him, the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations should channel its efforts into addressing challenges that directly affect internet users across the country.
“The Minister should focus on reducing the cost of data and improving internet access. Those are the issues ordinary Ghanaians are worried about,” Nyindam said.
He also argued that parents have a key role in protecting children from inappropriate online content and cautioned against measures he believes could infringe on adults’ privacy.
“Parents have a responsibility to monitor what their children access online. We should not be creating unnecessary laws that infringe on the privacy of adults,” he added.
Nyindam stressed that internet affordability remains one of the biggest concerns for many Ghanaians and should therefore be the government’s primary focus.
“People are struggling with the high cost of data. That is where the attention of the Ministry should be, not on introducing ID verification for pornography websites,” he said.
