Mrs Mahama Champions Global Child Protection in Digital Age at Washington Summit

Lordina Dramani Mahama has called on global leaders to intensify efforts to protect children in the rapidly evolving digital world, stressing that technology offers both transformative opportunities and serious risks.

Speaking at the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit in Washington, D.C., the Ghanaian First Lady commended Melania Trump for convening the high-level gathering focused on safeguarding children online.

Drawing from personal experience, Mrs Mahama recounted how technology bridged distances during Ghana’s 69th Independence Day celebrations on March 6, which coincided with her birthday. She shared how she received numerous TikTok messages from young Ghanaians who were unable to attend national events but expressed their joy and patriotism online.

“Many came from young people who could not attend our national celebrations. But technology gave them a voice,” she noted.

She emphasised that digital platforms have become powerful tools for expression, learning, and economic participation, particularly for the youth. Citing data on global connectivity, she observed that nearly 70 percent of the world’s population is now active on social media, while Ghana alone has between 8 and 15 million internet usersmost of them young people.

Referencing remarks by John Dramani Mahama during the Independence Day address, Mrs Mahama highlighted the vast potential of digital tools in shaping the next generation.

“Our children belong to a generation armed with tools that earlier generations could hardly imagine. In their hands, a smartphone becomes a classroom, a business platform, a creative studio, and a gateway to the global economy,” she quoted.

Despite these advantages, Mrs Mahama cautioned against the dangers associated with unregulated digital exposure. She pointed to research indicating that one in five young victims of cyberbullying avoids school due to online harassment, underscoring the urgency for coordinated action.

Ghana, she said, has taken proactive steps by strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing enforcement, and launching initiatives such as the Safer Digital Ghana campaign aimed at preventing online abuse and promoting awareness.

The country’s broader strategy, introduced in 2025, includes integrating digital literacy into school curricula and partnering with global technology firms like Meta and Google to improve content moderation and online safety standards.

Mrs Mahama concluded with a strong call to action, urging global collaboration in protecting children’s digital futures.

“Protecting children’s digital futures is our moral duty, our generational responsibility, and our shared global mission,” she declared.

The two-day summit seeks to strengthen international cooperation on child online safety, building on global frameworks such as the United Nations’ Children and Digital report and the European Union’s Digital Services Act.

With internet penetration in Ghana estimated at 68 percent, recent data suggests the country is emerging as a leader in Africa in balancing digital expansion with protective measures against threats including cyberbullying, sextortion, disinformation, and other forms of online abuse.