Mobile Network Operator, Tigo has called on
stakeholders, including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), policy makers,
security agencies, child rights activists, parents and the media to help make
the internet a safer and better place, especially for
children and young adults in Ghana.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum organised by J-Initiative, as
part of Safer Internet Day, Madam Gifty Bingley, Tigo’s Director for Corporate
Affairs, emphasised the importance of connectivity and accessibility in the
education and development of children.
She added that it was important
for stakeholders including parents to ensure their children
safety online.
Touching on Tigo’s effort
to raise awareness on the importance of working towards creating a safer online
environment for everyone, she disclosed that in 2014 Tigo’s parent
company, Millicom, signed a three-year partnership with the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to create standards for the telecoms industry aimed at
promoting respect for the online rights of young people and to advance child online
protection across all its operations.
She mentioned that following that global commitment,
Tigo Ghana has committed to child online protection and has been supporting local
organisations such as J-Initiative to create awareness and build the capacity
of stakeholders, especially parents, teachers and children.
“In 2016, we supported J-Initiative to train 86
teachers from 16 districts within the Greater Accra Region. Some 2,300 pupils
from 20 selected schools were also trained on how to stay safe online. Safety
awareness sessions were also done for parents in some churches in Accra,” she said.
Ms. Awo Aidam Amenyah, the Executive Director for J-Initiative,
a non-governmental organization (NGO) also highlighted the emergence of new
technologies, the many positive outcomes with benefits and perceived risks it
poses to children and young people.
She underscored J-Initiative’s preparedness to work
with all stakeholders to ensure that a safer and better internet environment for
all, especially children.
“We have gladly embraced the rallying call for SID
2017 and we believe we all need to contribute in making the internet safe for
children as it has endless of opportunities for their development,” she said.
Safer Internet Day is celebrated by
hundreds of countries around the world. The day is aimed at promoting safe, responsible and positive use of
technology, especially among children and young adults. This year's celebration
was on the theme is 'Be the Change: Unite for a better Internet'.
Stakeholders present at the event
included the World Vision International, Vodafone, Media Foundation for West
Africa (MFWA), Department of Children, Open Learning, Ghana
Institute of Journalism, Ghana Computer Emergency Response Team(CERT-Ghana),
Ghana Telecom University, WILDAF Ghana and Ghana Education Service, among
others.
Credit: Tigo Ghana
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