Speaking to learners from the schools, Madam Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, underlined the firm’s commitment to digital inclusion, combined with responsibility and safety for all users. She said that the event’s theme, “Unite to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls,” reflected the company’s vision that “everyone deserved the benefits of a modern, connected life.” She stressed that while violence against women was often discussed in physical terms, the digital sphere had become another arena for abuse.

“We know about gender-based violence when it comes to physical violence. Now we are beginning to live our lives on the internet and a lot of that has moved online as well,” she noted.

Madam Wiafe emphasised that the campaign required collective awareness, responsibility, and action. She called on students to learn about cyber-hygiene, to understand harmful behaviours, and to support peers who might be victims.

Addressing attendees on behalf of the police, ACP Owusuaa Kyeremeh of DOVVSU urged young people to see themselves as guardians of digital safety. She described the digital world as a space of both immense opportunity and grave danger, particularly for women and girls who were often disproportionately targeted.

“Digital violence is real, and it is growing,” Madam Kyeremeh warned, highlighting risks such as cyberbullying, sharing of intimate content without consent, hacking, and image-based abuse. She outlined three commitments for the youth to adopt : “Report abuse,” “Encourage victims or witnesses to speak to trusted adults, teachers, or report directly to DOVVSU” and “Use online tools positively”.

Madam Kyeremeh stressed DOVVSU’s readiness to investigate and prosecute digital violence, reinforcing that help was always available for victims.

Superintendent Emmanuel Eric Gyebi, Director of the Cyber Crime Unit at the Ghana Police Service, explained how modern crimes exploited digital anonymity to inflict psychological harm, not just physical violence.

Mr Gyebi elaborated how seemingly harmless interactions such as unsolicited requests, fake accounts, morally compromising content escalate into blackmail, psychological abuse, and even fraud.

He cautioned students to protect their online identity, avoid sharing sensitive personal data, and to treat abuse or suspicious contact with seriousness.

Mr Issac Martey, Shared Value Manager at MTN Ghana revealed that over the next 16 days, the campaign would run a series of engagements including regional radio interviews, school debates on Gender Based Violenc (GBV) awareness, community discussions on online safety, and youth-centered multimedia sessions.