A recent UNICEF survey on children's online activities in Ghana has revealed troubling insights into the digital experiences of young people.

The findings indicate that two out of ten children aged nine to seventeen have received inappropriate sexual messages online, while five out of ten children surveyed have encountered sexual images. Additionally, four out of ten children reported not feeling safe while using the internet.

In response to these concerning statistics, UNICEF in 2017 developed a training manual on Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse specifically for police officers.

The organization has since trained facilitators in various police training schools across the country to use this manual to better equip recruits in addressing online child exploitation issues.

At a recent training workshop held in Kumasi, Mr. Eric Kwaku Mensah, Project Lead for Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, underscored the urgent need to curb child exploitation on the internet.

Mr. Mensah, who also serves as the Lead for Financial Crimes and Anti-Money Laundering at the E-Crime Bureau, further emphasized the importance of integrating cyber-hygiene practices into school curriculae to protect children from online threats and foster safe digital habits from a young age.

This training initiative is part of a broader effort by UNICEF and local authorities to create a safer digital environment for Ghana's youth and ensure that law enforcement is prepared to address online child protection issues effectively.