This document discusses the participation of women and children in information and communications technology (ICT) in Ghana and recommendations to increase their involvement. It notes that currently few women and children participate in ICT programs and activities. It recommends empowering women and children with digital literacy skills through initiatives like coding classes, online courses, hackathons and leadership programs to encourage more participation in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) fields. It also calls for a review of Ghana's ICT policy to better support initiatives that can bridge the gender gap and engage all groups in digital opportunities.

1. PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND
CHILDREN IN IG:STATUS & THE
WAY FORWARD.
By: Awo Aidam Amenyah
J Initiative.
www.jighana.org

2. Outline
• COP Initiative in Ghana
• Child participation
• The girls in ICT
• Women’s participation in IG
• My thought on getting girls/women
involved
• Recommendations
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3. The story about COP
• Inappropriate content
• Child abuse imagery
• Sexting
• Online grooming
• Addiction to games
• Cyber bullying
• Tribalism
• plagiarism
• Hostility
• Lies etc
• A multi-stakeholder
committee to facilitate
a coherent COP action
in Ghana.
• Comprising of G’ment,
Industry, Civil Society,
Academia and Law
enforcement with the
responsibility to work
around the 5 ITU pillars.
• JI’s work in Digital
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4. Capacity needs of the Ghanaian!
• How many Ghanaian children will report cases
of online abuse?
• Are teachers of ICT equipped enough to build
children’s resilience for the online
environment?
• Are parents empowered enough to supervise
their wards online?
• Is the society clear about what constitutes
abuse of children and young people online?
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5. From the global checklist
• Is there a legislation specific to child
pornography? NO
• What is child pornography?
• What happens if a person is caught in
possession of child abuse imagery?
• Do ISPs report evidence of child abuse
imagery?
• Equipping children with requisite skills will
enhance their participation.
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6. Governmment’s ICT4AD POLICY
• “The ICT4AD policy
envisages modernizing
Ghana’s educational
system using ICTs to
improve and widen
access to education,
training and research
resources and facilities,
as well as improve the
quality of education and
training.”
• Driver on bridging
gender inequality can
be subject to the
individuals’
interpretation.
• Girls in ICT concept
launched.
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7. Status of women’s participation
• Most women shy away from the STEAM.
• Few women participate in ICT related
programs .
• Some organizations have built capacity for
women within the STEAM.
• More women are expected to engage online
for the benefit of womanhood.
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8. Addressing the gaps
• Speaker/Panel discussion on ICTs.
• Coding classes
• Hackathons
• Leadership programs
• Other related platforms alluded to by DG –
KICE aimed at empowering women and girls
to go into STEAM in her welcome remarks.
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9. Way Forward
• To fill the technological savvy gap: peer-to-
peer learning.
• Participate in online courses and other STEAM
related initiatives to gain knowledge and
exposure.
• https://accounts.skilljar.com/accounts/login/?
t=epqrxa8vr4ml&d=2glw3ucr4ada3&next=%2
Fauth%2Fendpoint%2Flogin%2Fresult%3Fd%3
D2glw3ucr4ada3%26next%3D%252F
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10. CONT’
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11. To SIGN UP for a course, go to:
• www.cybercitizenghana.com
• CLICK online courses
• For access code, drop an email:
inquiry@jighana.org
• Or whatssssap:024 2305656
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12. CONT’
• A second look at the ICT4AD policy TO GIVE
backing to all IT related initiatives as well as
acknowledgement of these groups.
• Be an excellent role model. Eg: Not texting
when driving, posting appropriately and so on.
• Ask the questions
• Can we execute a digital device contract with
our children or young people?
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13. THE CALL
Let’s review Ghana’s
ICT4AD policy to cater for
the interest of ALL in IG
stakeholders.
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14. THANK YOU
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