Kofi Bentil has voiced strong opposition to a proposed government plan requiring identity verification to access adult websites. The Vice President of IMANI Africa stated that this approach amounts to the state acting as a 'morality police'. Mr Bentil argues that while protecting children is paramount, using national identification systems to control adult online consumption is an overreach. He voiced these concerns on the program Newsfile. This policy proposal is currently under consideration by the government.
The plan, disclosed by Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George, aims to prevent minors from viewing explicit content. It suggests users might need a Ghana Card or other official identification. Mr Bentil believes the more significant issue is not traditional pornography sites but the prevalence of explicit content shared on social media and private messaging. He highlighted that platforms like Snapchat facilitate this. He cautioned that such regulatory measures have historically failed to achieve their goals.
Mr Bentil contextualised this debate within Ghana's broader economic and digital landscape. He pointed out that Ghana faces significant cybersecurity threats, including being a major hub for international romance fraud. He suggested that regulatory efforts and administrative resources would be better directed towards tackling these pressing digital security issues. He indicated that the government might be seeking to project a moral image, similar to debates surrounding the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. These efforts often lead to unintended consequences.
Mr Bentil stated, “I am not saying we should do nothing. I am saying it is not the government’s role, in terms of the ID cards, to control people’s consumption of porn.” He elaborated on the potential for unintended consequences. “This concept of a morality police, human beings have tended to want to do that and it’s always failed,” he said. He stressed that parents, schools and religious institutions hold primary responsibility for instilling moral values. Existing laws already address age restrictions, but Mr Bentil questioned the ministry's focus on this specific issue when more urgent cybercrimes exist.
The IMANI Africa executive warned that implementing such a system would create a new bureaucracy. He fears this structure could be exploited for oppression. “They’re going to create a whole new bureaucracy which will become the basis for oppressing and trapping all kinds of people,” he cautioned. He suggested the proposal might be a political move to demonstrate a strong stance on morality. This follows earlier debates on Ghana's anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. The government's actions on that front were described as woefully mishandled by Mr Bentil.