Dennis Miracles Aboagye, spokesperson for the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has cautioned against the use of national identification cards to verify the ages of people seeking access to pornographic websites.

According to him, although protecting children from harmful online content is important, using national IDs for such verification could create dangerous databases containing sensitive personal information.

Gov't working towards mandatory ID verification policy for access to pornographic websites - Sam George

His comments come after the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, proposed mandatory ID verification for access to adult content online as part of efforts to strengthen child online safety.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, June 6,2026, Miracles said he supports stricter child protection measures online but believes Ghana must adopt safer alternatives that do not heavily rely on personal data collection.

He argued that systems such as one-time passwords (OTPs) could achieve the same purpose while offering an extra layer of protection against identity misuse.

“I am for the protection of the children but maybe we should find a different way and not the IDs. With the OTP, I agree. Once there is an OTP, it means that even if you take my ID, you can’t use it because it must come to me. Fair enough, but that database, I am against it,” he stated.

Miracles stressed that the growing concerns around cyber security and data privacy should make policymakers more cautious about building large databases linked to citizens’ online activities.

NA/AM

FBI shares major update on Abu Trica’s case

TWI NEWS