According to a Story published on Citinewsroom.com, MTN Ghana, in collaboration with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) has launched the 2024 edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, with special emphasis on tackling the rising wave of cyberbullying and digital abuse directed at women and children.
The event, held on November 27, 2025 at the Police Depot Cluster of Schools in Accra, brought together pupils, teachers, MTN officials and DOVVSU representatives to highlight growing risks within the online environment.
Speaking at the launch, Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN, explained that as young people spend more time online, the threat of digital violence has become more pronounced.
She noted that although physical violence is widely understood, many are unaware that harmful online behavior including insults, threats, harassment and inappropriate comments also constitutes violence and can have severe consequences.
As part of their campaign, MTN and DOVVSU engaged both male and female pupils, imparting knowledge on cyberbullying, responsible online conduct, cyber hygiene and how to identify and report digital abuse. Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe emphasised that educating children early is crucial because many young internet users do not recognise that their online actions may be harmful or even criminal.
The Chronicle commends MTN Ghana and DOVVSU for launching this year’s 16 Days of Activism with a strong and timely focus on digital violence. In an era where people now live a significant part of their lives on the internet studying, working, socialising, building businesses and shaping identities, the digital world has become an extension of our physical existence.
Yet, while the internet provides endless opportunities, it has also become a hostile space, especially for women and children, who are the primary targets of cyberbullying, harassment and various forms of digital abuse.
The Chronicle observes with concern that cyberbullying in the country is no longer an isolated phenomenon. Social media platforms are increasingly flooded with insults, threats, revenge content and degrading comments aimed particularly at women and girls.
Children, too, face trolling, exploitation and manipulation from both peers and predatory adults. This growing digital hostility has far-reaching consequences as many women and children are gradually withdrawing from online spaces, thereby losing access to learning opportunities, empowerment networks, entrepreneurship possibilities and global conversations.
If the digital space becomes unsafe for these vulnerable groups, society risks deepening gender inequality and stifling the voices that most need representation. The Chronicle believes that Ghana cannot drive digital transformation while ignoring digital violence.
It is for this reason that the MTN–DOVVSU partnership deserves strong national support. Their decision to educate pupils, boys and girls alike on cyber hygiene, harmful online behaviour and the legal implications of digital abuse is not only commendable but strategic. Early intervention shapes attitudes before they solidify, ensuring that the next generation grows into responsible digital citizens.
Furthermore, public-private collaborations such as this expand the fight against online violence beyond the limits of policy and policing. Awareness, education and community engagement are equally essential tools.
The Chronicle urges government agencies, schools, religious bodies and civil society organisations to join this campaign. Cyberbullying is not merely an online nuisance, it is a societal threat that undermines mental health, dignity and equal participation.
Together, we must reclaim the digital space and ensure that women and children feel safe to learn, express themselves and thrive.
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The post Editorial: Cyberbullying Directed At Women And Children Must End! appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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