Nigerians, Presidency React As Twitter Establishes Maiden African Office In Ghana

Twitter had on Monday stated that Ghana will house the Africa headquarters of its platform.

Twitter noted that Ghana’s free speech and online freedom, Open Internet and its recent appointment to host the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area informed its decision to establish  twitter Africa headquarters in the country.

The statement reads, “today, in line with our growth strategy, we’re excited to announce that we are now actively building a team in Ghana,” the social media giant said.

“To truly serve the public conversation, we must be more immersed in the rich and vibrant communities that drive the conversations taking place every day across the African continent.”

“as a supporter of free speech, online freedom, and the Open Internet, of which Twitter is also an advocate. Furthermore, Ghana’s recent appointment to host The Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area aligns with our overarching goal to establish a presence in the region that will support our efforts to improve and tailor our service across Africa.”

“Whenever we enter new markets, we work hard to ensure that we are not just investing in the talent that we hire, but also investing in local communities and the social fabric that supports them,”  the company added.

In his words, the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo described the establishment of twitter headquarters in Ghana as an excellent news, thanking Twitter for reposing confidence in the country.

His word reads, “As I indicated to @Jack in our virtual meeting of 7th April 2021, this is the start of a beautiful partnership between Twitter and Ghana, which is critical for the dev’t of Ghana’s hugely important tech sector,” the Ghana leader tweeted on his official handle. “These are exciting times to be in, and to do business in Ghana.”

But in a swift reaction, Presidential spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu tweeted, “I pray Ghanaians would not allow their country to be used as a platform for the orchestration of nuisance on the African internet space.

“Nigeria is safer with the hypocrisy of Twitter. We shall have to improve on our methods for elimination of fake news on the information space.

“They just hate Nigeria because they know that the only country that can be the next African super power, fully democratic, highly mobile population and good working age population is Nigeria.

“Twitter came to Ghana to target Nigerian market. They won’t admit they need us, but we know.”

Also reacting, President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Mr. Tolu Ogunlesi, countered the negative reactions against the Nigerian government, saying that Facebook had also announced that it would be opening an office in Lagos.

“Ghana got Twitter, Nigeria got Facebook (operational H2 2021). God be praised. Let’s be happy for each other. Not everything is fight, dears. Ghana, congratulations.”

However, Nigerians on twitter have reacted bitterly over twitter’s announcement to make Ghana its   headquarters.

• Below are some of the reactions:

Former Nigeria presidential aspirant Adamu Garba tweeted “I pray Ghana would not allow their country to be used as a platform for the orchestration of nuisance on the African internet space.

“Nigeria is safer with the Hypocrisy of Twitter. We shall have to improve on our methods for elimination of Fake News on the information space.

@Oluchi Nigerian young techs can take advantage of the opportunity to work for Twitter HQ in Ghana. Check their website and start applying. Forget about Nigeria, the world has left her behind.

@Samuel Mbah
Jack put Twitter headquarters for Ghana because he know say una no dey get light for Nigeria

@Fisayo Soyumbo Twitter is coming to Africa, and it has picked Ghana as its continental base. Why?
“Ghana is a supporter of free speech, online freedom, and the Open Internet.”
LSame space the night Govt is bent on shrinking? You think say na the youth you dey do

A time must come when we all grow up and stop these childish pissing and dissing games. Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, SA are ALL getting a lot of recognition and investment from tech companies and investors. Let’s stop behaving like crabs, as if it’s a Zero Sum game. It’s stupid!

— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) April 12, 2021

And the desire to cast every good thing that happens to another country in negative light for Nigeria (even while similar good stuff is happening here) is not just a fascinating cognitive bias but also a debilitating sickness that modern medicine needs to get to the bottom of.

— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) April 12, 2021

@Dr Olufumilayo, as Ghana has 31 million people.l, 8 million social media users.
Nigeria has 200million people. 33million social media users. Guess where Twitter chose the headquarters of African Operations?Ghana! We ban crypto.Kill small business.Oppress young people.

— Foza Billions (The Oracle) (@fozadoza) April 12, 2021

‘Giant of Africa’ for overpopulation, Jollof rice and fish gbish gbish music.

— Dami (@xx_thedami) April 12, 2021

— Adamu Garba II (@adamugarba) April 12, 2021

How do you guys expect Jack to bring Africa Twitter HQ to Nigeria while you’re only good at #Yahoo yahoo and spreading fake news on his App,?? learn to use the internet for good and maybe he’ll consider establishing a branch here. It seems like Ghana is now the Giant of Africa.

@MFaare April 12, 2021

Is Nigeria really the giant of Africa, or are we just living on past glory?

— Enny-J (@Herneholar)

Nigeria has lost its glory in the eyes of the world that’s what makes it descending instead of ascending. Am afraid one day the name giant of Africa will diminish from Nigeria and refer to other countries like Ghana,
if we choose to count. (@Omojolatobi) April 12, 2021

I get really amused when Nigerians start frothing at the mouth over being “passed over for” [insert other African country here]. We’re such proud people, in spite of everything.

— S. (@saratu

Whoever started this Giant of Africa nonsense really did a number on us. As if everything is by population size which is really our outstanding measurement at this time.