MTN Ghana has turned its spotlight on online abuse, launching this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with a clear message that digital spaces are becoming just as dangerous as the physical world.
MTN Ghana has launched this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with a firm focus on online abuse, rallying under the theme “Unite to End Digital Violence Against Women and Children.”
The initiative kicked off at Tesano, where more than 100 students from the Police Depot Cluster of Schools were addressed on the growing threat of harmful online behaviour.
Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, MTN Ghana’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, said the aim is straightforward — protecting vulnerable groups from digital harm. She noted the shift from traditional forms of abuse to online spaces where harassment is now rampant.
“We are already familiar with physical forms of gender-based violence. However, as more of our life is spent online, so has abuse also moved to the digital space, showing up as cyberbullying, harassment, and other harmful online actions, most of which disproportionately affect women and girls,” she said.
Wiafe added that while MTN’s mission is to connect people, it must also work to make those connections safe. “Being connected should be a positive and empowering experience. Anything that causes harm or negativity is something we must all work together to eliminate.”
ACP Owusuaa Kyeremeh, Director of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), painted a stark picture of how quickly online abuse spreads and how deeply it affects victims. “With a single click, someone can spread harmful videos, steal personal information, or send threats that infringe on another person’s freedom,” she warned.
She stressed that young women are particularly at risk — from harassment and hacking to the non-consensual sharing of private images — many incidents going unreported. Her message to students was blunt: do not look away. Be the generation that refuses to allow online abuse to thrive.
MTN, in partnership with DOVVSU and the Cyber Security Authority, is rolling out awareness activities across the country including radio engagements, school debates, film viewings, support information sessions and community outreach.
The launch event also featured an interactive session on cyber hygiene led by Superintendent Emmanuel Gyebi, Director of Cybercrime, alongside an MTN representative. One outstanding student walked away with a tablet for active participation.
MTN says the 2025 run of the campaign is a continuation of efforts to promote responsible digital behaviour and secure online spaces for women, children and all users.
Source: kumasimail.com
