The President of Targeted Rights Initiative (TRI), Doreen Raheena Sulleyman, calls on the government to adopt a survivor-centred approach in the formulation of policies and frameworks addressing online child sexual exploitation and abuse in Ghana.
Panel Discourse Featuring Kwasi Mensah Nyarko (ESQ) , Gwendoline Abbey (Cyber security, investigator and Digital Forensic Analyst), Eben Asare-Boafo (Web4uGhana, Managing Partner, BisaAI consult Ltd), Doreen Raheena Sulleyman (President, Targeted Rights Initiative
She made the call while speaking at the 2026 National Online Safety Summit, held on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra. According to her, policies that prioritise survivors’ lived experiences are critical to ensuring justice, healing, and long-term protection for affected children.
The summit was organised by the Ghana Internet Safety Foundation, in partnership with Praesidio Safeguarding, the Cyber Security Authority, and the Ghana Police Service, among others. It brought together government officials, civil society organisations, law enforcement agencies, and digital safety advocates.
Ms. Sulleyman stressed that without survivor-focused frameworks, responses to online child sexual exploitation and abuse risk being ineffective and detached from the realities victims face. She urged policymakers to involve survivors and child protection experts directly in shaping national interventions.
At Targeted Right Initiative our message is simple and clear, online abuse, online safety doesn’t require one person to do it, we are all trying our best but we need to include parents and teachers, educators and then with government they should at least help us with survivor-centered policies and frameworks she stated.
Government Urged to Adopt Survivor-Centred Approach to Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Ghana – Targeted Rights Initiative Boss
National Online Safety Summit Highlights United Front Against Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Held under the theme “Building a United Front Against Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Ghana,” discussions focused on the growing incidence of online abuse, the importance of public education, capacity building, inter-agency collaboration, and the use of advanced digital forensic tools.
A panel session on strengthening Ghana’s national response highlighted the need for improved reporting mechanisms, victim support systems, and increased public awareness. Panelists noted that many victims fail to report abuse due to fear, stigma, or lack of knowledge about available channels.
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Speakers also underscored the role of digital literacy, pointing out that widespread ignorance about digital footprints and online traces makes children more vulnerable. They called for sustained education campaigns and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to curb online child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide.
Additionally, The Director General, CID of the Ghana Police Service, COP Lydia Donkor, stated that online sexual exploitation and abuse which includes live streamed sexual abuse not only violate our laws but fundamentally threaten the safety, dignity and future of our children. She made known the importance of technology and how it has transformed the way we live, however, she added the unfortunate use of these same technologies by exploiters to target and abuse children. Finally, she gave detailed processes taken while dealing with these sensitive issues and assured the public of law enforcement’s commitment to enforcing the law as well as working with all stakeholders to ensure the digital safety for our younger ones.
