NUGS President Proposes Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

The President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Rashid Ibrahim, has called for restrictions on social media use among children under 15 as part of efforts to address growing indiscipline and promote stronger moral development among young people.

Mr Ibrahim, a legal practitioner, argued that unrestricted access to social media at an early age could expose children to behaviours and influences that may negatively affect their character and values.

He suggested that Ghana could consider approaches adopted by countries including Australia, France and Indonesia, where measures have been introduced to limit young people’s access to social media.

He made the proposal at the fourth Muslim Leaders and Catholic Bishops Meeting Dialogue, held under the theme, “Addressing the Challenges of Rising Indiscipline in Our Schools: The Role of Faith-Based Organisations.”

Mr Ibrahim linked indiscipline in schools partly to inadequate parental supervision and weaknesses in monitoring students within educational institutions. He also called for appropriate consequences for young people who violate established rules, stressing the importance of helping children understand that misconduct has consequences.

The discussion also highlighted the responsibility of parents in shaping children’s development. The Commission Secretary of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Lucille Hewlett Annan, urged parents to make their children’s welfare and upbringing a priority.

She noted that raising children requires considerable financial, emotional and time commitments and encouraged parents to devote adequate resources to their development.

Meanwhile, Dr Haruna Zagoon-Sayeed, Senior Lecturer and Lead Convener of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Ghana, called for increased government support for faith-based organisations to strengthen moral and character education in schools.

He raised concerns about the limited number of chaplains available to guide students in some schools, noting that a single chaplain may be expected to provide moral guidance to thousands of students.

Associate Professor at the University of Ghana, Very Reverend Father Cosmos Ebo Sabah, also advocated greater authority and responsibility for teachers and other educators to enforce discipline.

He argued that while Ghana’s education system places significant emphasis on academic achievement, greater attention must also be given to the moral and character development of students.