Legal practitioner Abena Boakye has issued a strong caution to parents, particularly influencers and content creators, on the legal and ethical dangers of posting their children online without proper consent.
Speaking at the ‘A Convergence of Mothers’ event in Accra, during a session focused on the legalities of raising children in Ghana, Boakye emphasized that while many parents enjoy sharing milestones of their children, doing so could be in violation of several laws protecting minors in the country.
She cited key legal frameworks that guide child protection in Ghana, including the 1992 Constitution, the Children’s Act, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Labour Law, the Data Protection Act, and the Cybersecurity Act.
“Children cannot give legal consent to be posted online,” she stated plainly. “They are not 18 yet. So, as a mother, you have to put yourself in the shoes of your child. Imagine that child at age 10 or 18 stumbling on a picture or video of themselves as toddlers, perhaps half-naked in diapers. How would that feel?”
The lawyer stressed that uploading videos or pictures of children, especially in ways that could be considered humiliating, overly commercialized, or invasive, violates their rights to privacy and dignity. This, she warned, could invite legal consequences from state institutions, including Social Welfare.
Boakye referenced a recent case she handled where two children were removed from their mother by Ghana’s Social Welfare Department due to online privacy violations. She used this to illustrate that “Social Welfare in Ghana actually works.”
For parents and influencers who wish to involve their children in brand or advertising deals, she advised following due process by first seeking approval from the Labour Department and obtaining permits from the Ghana Standards Authority.
“If you get a contract to advertise your child, the government must protect that child. You don’t know if the money from that campaign is even going into an account for the child’s future,” she explained.
Abena Boakye also raised concerns about the risks of artificial intelligence in an era where images of children can be easily manipulated. “AI can remove a diaper and expose a baby. Even if it’s not their private parts, it is still illegal and punishable,” she warned.
She concluded with a set of practical recommendations for modern parents, urging them to avoid posting their children online, especially when the children are in vulnerable states. If they must post, she advised that the content should be carefully censored, with comments either limited or turned off entirely.
She encouraged the use of private platforms like WhatsApp or controlled Snapchat stories to share such moments selectively.
Above all, she emphasized the need for parents to reflect on the long-term psychological impact such posts might have on both themselves and their children.
The legal session formed part of the broader event themed “Yesterday’s Daughters, Today’s Mothers” a forum designed to bridge generational insights into motherhood.
Hosted by media personality MzGee, the event brought together mothers across generations to share lessons, challenges, and evolving approaches to parenting in today’s digital world.
Other speakers at the gathering included Alberta Mensah (mother of Richie Mensah of Lynx Entertainment), gospel artiste Piesie Esther, broadcaster Whitney Boakye-Mensah, Dr. Jemima Nunoo, and social entrepreneur Afia Akoto, among others. Topics discussed spanned maternal mental health, adolescent parenting, special needs care, and nutrition.
Watch the video below:
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