By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, May 27, GNA – The Aya Institute, a research and training organisation, has commended Ghana’s telecommunications progress while calling for greater gender responsiveness to drive meaningful transformation in the sector.
It noted that Ghana’s leadership and infrastructure had positioned the country among the most progressive telecommunications industries globally.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, the institute highlighted Ghana’s competitive telecommunications sector, particularly in liberalisation and private sector participation.
“According to the 2024 International Telecommunications Union (ITU) report, globally, 70 percent of men use the internet, compared to 65 percent of women, resulting in 189 million more men online than women,” it stated.
The report revealed that while the global digital gender gap had decreased since 2021, it had widened in least developed countries (LDCs), including Ghana. In 2024, only 29 per cent of women in LDCs used the internet, compared to 41 per cent of men.
It cited the ITU’s findings that socio-economic disparities further worsen the gender gap, with only 21 per cent of women in low-income countries accessing the internet, compared to 93 per cent in high-income countries.
These inequalities hinder economic transformation for women and girls, obstructing the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“On the celebration of this day, the Institute is advocating for better access coupled with affordability of expanded usage experience and training for women and girls,” it stated.
It urged the government to expand gender transformation initiatives, including Girls in ICT, which targets young schoolgirls to bridge the digital divide.
“In a world where digital and telecommunications seem to be the most effective and efficient, it is important to carefully invest in this area with gender-sensitive policies that target the unserved: women and girls,” it noted.
The Institute also called for stronger protections in the telecommunications space through the Ministry of Communication and law enforcement agencies, such as the National Cybersecurity Authority.
It emphasised the need to tackle cyberbullying and inappropriate content involving minors, alongside educational initiatives to ensure a safer digital ecosystem.
The statement urged stakeholders to commit to gender-transformative policies and work towards a more inclusive and secure telecommunications environment.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey