A recent survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that a staggering 2.6 million schoolchildren between the ages of 6 and 17 in Ghana do not have access to information and communication technology (ICT) tools and devices.

According to the GSS survey conducted between April and June 2021, “nationally, 2.6 million children aged 6 to 17 who were currently attending school did not use an ICT device in the three months preceding Census Night (April to June 2021).”

The survey further highlighted that “over a third (35.2%) of children aged 6 to 17 who were currently attending school did not use an ICT device,” with higher percentages among those who attended school in the past and those who have never attended school.

The lack of ICT access was particularly prominent in regions such as Savannah, North East, and Oti, where more than half of the schoolchildren did not use an ICT device within the three-month period.

In terms of internet access, the survey revealed that 41.5 per cent of schoolchildren had no access to the internet. The Oti Region had the highest percentage, with 59.7 per cent of participants indicating no internet access.

The survey also found that the percentage of children not using ICT devices or accessing the internet decreased with age, with the lowest percentages observed among children aged 15 to 17.

The GSS survey was conducted to commemorate the International Day of the African Child, which is celebrated annually on June 16th. The theme for 2023 is “The Rights of the Child in the digital environment.”