Accra, July 13, GNA - A researcher observed that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) would negatively affect Ghana's development, if pro-active measures are not taken to prevent the youth from using the facility for fraud and immorality. Mr. Sylvester Kyei-Gyamfi, head of Information, Research and Advocacy Division (IRAD) of the Department of Children, expressed concern about the spate of abuse of internet among school children in the country.

He was speaking at the end of a dissemination forum for children selected from primary and junior high schools in Dansoman and Osu, in Accra. The event was organized by the Department, which is under the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, to disseminate findings of a research it carried out on "Use of Internet by Children in the Accra Metropolis".

Mr. Kyei-Gyamfi advised young people to use the internet to harness their potentials to enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development and obtain jobs at the highly competitive global labour market.

Mrs. Florence Quartey of the Department, who presented the report, expressed regret that "whilst some children in the metropolis use the internet for academic work others use the facility for fun and pornographic and other harmful purposes." She urged school authorities, parents and internet caf=E9 owners to regulate the use of the computer by children since the study revealed that they (stakeholders) assisted children to operate the facility. Mrs. Quartey mentioned that "out of 700 school children interviewed 30 percent of them use the internet while 70 per cent did not use the facility. The number of male school children who used internet was more than their female counterparts." The participants said that even though some children misused the computer, there was the need to provide all school children with the facility to enhance academic work, entertainment and communication.