Feature: Ghana’s Digital Health Boom Meets Rights Crisis — New Policy Brief Exposes Risks Facing Young People

As Ghana accelerates its digital transformation agenda, a new national policy brief by the Digital Health and Rights Project (DHRP) is raising urgent questions about whether the country is adequately protecting the very people driving that transformation its youth.

The Ghana National Policy Brief – Digital Health and Rights Project (DHRP), backed by extensive research across four countries Ghana, Kenya, Colombia and Vietnam paints a complex picture: one where young people are increasingly relying on digital platforms for health information and services, yet are simultaneously exposed to rising risks including online abuse, data privacy violations, misinformation and systemic exclusion.

At the heart of the report is a stark warning — Ghana’s digital health ecosystem is expanding faster than its legal, regulatory and social protections.

A Digital Lifeline Under Threat

For many young Ghanaians, digital platforms have become a lifeline for accessing health information, especially on sensitive issues such as HIV, sexual and reproductive health, and mental wellbeing.

“Digital health is supporting access, particularly for young people dealing with stigmatized conditions,” explained Alberta Nadutey, a researcher on the project. “Many prefer going online rather than visiting physical health facilities because of stigma.”

However, this shift to digital spaces comes with hidden costs.

The report identifies what researchers describe as the “cost of connection” — not just in financial terms, but also in social and psychological risks. Data affordability remains a major barrier, forcing some young people to choose between buying internet data and basic necessities like food.

Beyond cost, stigma continues to shape digital behaviour. According to Nadutey, fear of exposure discourages many from seeking health information online.

“Someone living with HIV may avoid searching for information online because they fear their search history could be accessed,” she said. “That fear of stigma is real, and it limits access to potentially life-saving information.”

Normalising Online Abuse

Perhaps one of the most alarming findings in the policy brief is the growing normalisation of technology-facilitated abuse.

Young people particularly those advocating for health issues or belonging to marginalised groups face daily harassment online, including insults, cyberbullying and targeted attacks.

“What we found, even beyond what we set out to study, was how normalised online abuse has become,” Nadutey noted. “People are insulted simply for sharing health information or for who they are.”

For individuals living with HIV, the abuse can be particularly harsh. Even those working as advocates are not spared.

“Someone can be providing education on HIV prevention and still be insulted — told they deserve the disease,” she added.

The report also highlights how stigma intersects with identity. Sexual minorities, for instance, face heightened abuse in digital spaces, especially within contexts where their identities are criminalised or heavily stigmatised.

Despite these challenges, the research found that young people are demonstrating resilience — continuing to seek and share health information online, often supporting peers in the process.

The Digital Divide: Geography and Gender

While digital health services are expanding, access remains uneven.

The policy brief underscores a persistent digital divide, particularly between urban and rural communities, and between men and women.

“In urban areas, more young people are online, although affordability is still an issue,” Nadutey explained. “But as you move to rural areas, access declines significantly — and it becomes even more difficult for young women.”

Cultural norms further complicate access. In some communities, women are discouraged or even prevented from owning smartphones.

“We encountered cases where husbands did not see the need for their wives to use smartphones,” she said.

In parts of northern Ghana, simply owning a smartphone can attract suspicion.

“Young people are sometimes labelled as engaging in illegal activities just because they have smartphones,” Nadutey added.

These layered barriers economic, cultural and infrastructural risk excluding entire groups from the benefits of digital health innovations.

Privacy at Risk in a Data-Driven Era

As more young people turn to digital platforms for health services, concerns about data privacy are intensifying.

The policy brief warns that Ghana lacks comprehensive safeguards to protect sensitive health data online. Digital footprints including search histories and social media activity can inadvertently reveal personal health information.

“It’s not always about voluntarily disclosing your status,” Nadutey explained. “People leave digital traces, and others can use those to make assumptions or expose them.”

The report calls for stronger data protection measures and clearer regulations governing how health data is collected, stored and used by digital platforms.

While Ghana has made strides in data protection legislation, researchers argue that enforcement and awareness remain weak, particularly in the context of emerging digital health tools.

Fragmented Governance and Policy Gaps

A central theme of the policy brief is the lack of coordinated governance around digital health and online safety.

Currently, multiple institutions including the Ministry of Communication, law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies have overlapping responsibilities, creating confusion about accountability.

“If someone is abused online, where do they go?” Nadutey asked. “Is it a criminal issue? A civil matter? Who handles it?”

This fragmentation, the report argues, leaves victims without clear pathways for redress.

Richard Agodzo, Youth Coordinator for the Digital Health and Rights Project in Ghana, echoed these concerns, pointing to broader systemic failures.

“The youth are online in large numbers, sharing information and engaging actively, but the systems to protect them are not keeping up,” he said.

According to Agodzo, one of the key drivers of online abuse is the mismatch between rapid technological advancement and outdated policy frameworks

“We are still working with policies that were developed years ago, yet technology has evolved drastically,” he noted. “This is now an AI-driven world, and our regulations have not caught up.”

Youth Voices Missing in Policy Spaces

A major critique in the policy brief is the lack of meaningful youth participation in digital governance. Agodzo argues that policies affecting young people are often designed without their input.

“Were young people at the table when these policies were created?” he asked. “If not, how can those policies truly reflect their realities?”

He emphasised that without youth involvement, policies risk becoming outdated almost immediately.

To address this gap, the DHRP has actively involved young people through Community Advisory Teams, digital empowerment workshops and advocacy initiatives aimed at amplifying youth voices.

Misinformation and the Rise of AI

The report also highlights growing concerns about health misinformation, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence. Agodzo warned that AI-generated content is making it easier for false information to spread.

“You have situations where AI claims there is a cure for HIV, which contradicts global health evidence,” he said. “Young people may not always be able to distinguish between accurate and misleading information.”

This poses significant risks, especially in a country where HIV prevalence remains relatively high among young people.

To counter this, the policy brief recommends the development of verified digital health platforms and toolkits that provide accurate, accessible information.

From Online Abuse to Real-World Harm

One of the more troubling insights from the research is the potential for online abuse to escalate into physical harm.

Agodzo warned that digital conflicts can spill into real-life violence if left unchecked.

“Online arguments may seem harmless, but they can escalate,” he said. “We have seen how digital hostility can translate into real-world tensions.”

He pointed to the lack of specialised legal frameworks to address such cases, noting that digital abuse is often treated like traditional forms of abuse without considering its unique dynamics.

“Do we even have lawyers or judges who specialise in digital rights and online abuse?” he asked. “These are gaps we must address.”

Policy Recommendations: A Roadmap for Change

The Ghana National Policy Brief outlines several key recommendations aimed at strengthening digital health governance and protecting young people:

Expand affordable internet access through zero-rated platforms and public Wi-Fi initiatives.

Strengthen data protection laws and enforcement, particularly for health-related data.

Develop clear reporting and response mechanisms for technology-facilitated abuse.

Promote digital literacy, equipping young people with skills to navigate online spaces safely.

Ensure meaningful youth participation in policy development and digital governance.

Enhance inter-agency coordination to eliminate regulatory fragmentation.

Address misinformation through verified digital health platforms and partnerships.

Advocacy and Next Steps

The DHRP is already taking steps to translate research into action.

According to Agodzo, the team plans to engage key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, to present their findings and recommendations.

“We are moving beyond research,” he said. “The goal is to influence policy and ensure implementation.”

The project is also collaborating with civil society organisations and leveraging social media advocacy to raise awareness and push for accountability.

As Ghana continues its push toward digitalisation, the findings of the DHRP policy brief serve as a timely reminder that innovation must be matched with protection.

Digital health has the potential to transform healthcare access, particularly for young people. But without robust safeguards, it could also deepen inequalities and expose users to new forms of harm.

“We cannot talk about digitalisation without talking about human rights. It’s not just about access it’s about safety, dignity and protection,” Nadutey emphasised.

For Ghana, the challenge now is clear: build a digital future that is not only innovative, but also inclusive, secure and rights-based.

Because in the race toward digital transformation, leaving young people unprotected is a risk the country cannot afford to take.

 

 

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