‘Massive Reactions at Twitter’s choice of Ghana as Africa HQ

Gift Joseph Okpakorese

There has been a flurry of negative comments, reactions, and wagging of tongues from angry Nigerians, who felt aggrieved by the choice of Ghana over Nigeria as the African Headquarters of Twitter.

From a survey of social media platforms on Monday the 12th of April, the Nigerian and Ghanian Twittersphere were filled with reactions to the declaration of the choice of Ghana as headquarters of the microblogging platform.

Jack Dorsey, Twitter’s chief executive officer, formally announced the news earlier in the day.

“Twitter is now present on the continent. Thank you Ghana and @NAkufoAddo. #TwitterGhana,” Dorsey tweeted.

Thank you Ghana and @NAkufoAddo. #TwitterGhana https://t.co/tt7KR3kvDg

— jack (@jack) April 12, 2021

The announcement stimulated responses from some Nigerians on Twitter, as they took to the platform to register different opinions, especially on the choice of Ghana instead of Nigeria.

Numerous reasons were brought forth by them. Some were statements of facts, others made a caricature of the presidency and political leaders whilst some simply expressed their frustrations.

Meanwhile, some persons criticized the choice of Ghana over Nigeria on policies said to negatively affect the ease of doing business in Nigeria, others claimed the government’s clampdown on protesters during the #EndSARS protests contributed to Twitter’s decision to choose Ghana.

Below are some of the reactions from Twitter on the announcement:

— Nimueh Anacksunamun tweeted.

“Maybe Jack couldn’t get SIM card” https://t.co/eIlZYtDgbv

— Nimueh Anacksunamun (@wickedstepmami) April 12, 2021.

We brought in a group of expats in December. Till today, none of them has a Nigerian phone number, because you can’t buy SIM cards.

— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) April 12, 2021.

This is what happens when a country has a President, instead of a UK resident.

Congratulations Ghana!#NoRestDuringUnrest#HarassBuhariOutofLondon pic.twitter.com/s79Q1XQtH7

— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 12, 2021.

Another Big L for Nigeria who despite having the biggest active social media users, we got overlooked for Ghana. This is obviously because of the anti-business policies of APC and Buhari. Shameful

— Honourable Oke Umurhohwo (@OkeStalyf) April 12, 2021.

This was Nigeria once upon a time- Africa’s pride. Under GEJ we demanded an apology within 7 days from South Africa for deporting Nigerians. That apology not only came, but it was also accompanied by a promise to overhaul immigration policies. Today we borrow grains from ECOWAS under Buhari https://t.co/fsslKa9NKS

— Umar Sa’ad Hassan (@Alaye_100) April 12, 2021.

Before Buhari happened in 2015,  was the first choice country for foreign direct investments in Africa, with the largest economy in Africa.

Post-2015  is a laughing stock, the passport is disrespected, Naira is utterly useless!

Buhari is the Chief DE-MARKETER OF NIGERIA! https://t.co/7mbQ2DpVgu

— Mazi @FestusGreen  (@FestusGreen) April 12, 2021.

Can you even imagine Twitter having a Nigerian office? AGF will serve them papers to delete accounts daily. DSS can show up to intimidate the hapless staff. Nah, imagine it?? They chose Ghana and rightfully so. Love that for them

— Bisola (@Bisolaaa) April 12, 2021.

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 the elimination of Fake News in the information space. https://t.co/KpTgJ4M3Zq

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

Easy choice for me. #TwitterGhana is thex closest to #NaijaTwitter & Nana didn’t clamp down on Cryptocurrency, didn’t order a Massacre, and attempt to erase it with silence. Oh! Nana isn’t killing tech startups too.

Well done @jack https://t.co/1qp4XrSF9l

—Adedayo  (@adedayo_agarau) April 12, 2021.

Nigeria attracted $2.6 billion FDI in 2020, Ghana attracted $627.52m FDI in the 1st 1/2 of 2020.

Population

: 200m

: 30m

Nigeria is now the baby lion of Africa. https://t.co/9DDPmvFAhk

— theonly1acre (@theonly1acre) April 12, 2021.

In 2013 Nigeria was the top foreign investment destination in Africa – Then Nigerians decided to commit economic suicide

The gift of 2015 keeps on giving… https://t.co/sF56Ak1vr0

— King Alfred (@KingDouyeAlfred) April 12, 2021.

Nigeria has 33M active social media users. Meanwhile, Ghana’s total population is just 31.5M, with 8.2M social media users.

But guess what, Jack still chose Ghana over Nigeria. Because what? We have bad leaders with terrible policies. https://t.co/pIfWkqXElC pic.twitter.com/wScTouYKik

— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) April 12, 2021

Another L for Nigeria.

The job losses, the fx loss, the knowledge lost. I hope the powers that be learn. https://t.co/AvT5wM2znk

— AIO – ابوبکر (@AbuAbokina) April 12, 2021.

The only reason Twitter would go to Ghana before Nigeria is that Ghana has made it viable for them. Otherwise, it makes no sense, the numbers and market are in Nigeria’s favor.

This is a shame to Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business. https://t.co/1igLwkZOFh

— Karo (@Karovoni) April 12, 2021.

Can you even imagine Twitter having a Nigerian office? AGF will serve them papers to delete accounts daily. DSS can show up to intimidate the hapless staff. Nah, imagine it?? They chose Ghana and rightfully so. Love that for them

— Bisola (@Bisolaaa) April 12, 2021.

If we are being honest, Ghana is the real Giant of Africa. Naija na Parody Giant.

— Tife  (@Tife_fabunmi) April 12, 2021.

Ghana has 31million people.

8million social media users.

Nigeria has 200million people.

33million social media users.

*Guess where Twitter chose as headquarters of African Operations? Ghana!

We ban crypto.

Kill small business.

Oppress young people.

This is why nobody rates us.

-#OurFavOnlineDoc (@DrOlufunmilayo) April 12, 2021.

Congratulations to my brothers in Ghana. We are the headquarters of twitter Africa. Dem Nigerians are crying. With the president wey don pass menopause. God bless Ghana.

— SHANK COMICS (@Obacruze) April 12, 2021.

Staying away from Nigeria is a smart choice!!   https://t.co/8hKBARAWcL

— I think you’re cool, that’s why I (@Zen_firee) April 12, 2021.

Nigeria has about ~44M social media users, way above the entire population of Ghana –30.42M. Ghana’s social media users were pegged at about 6M.

Ghana is the champion of democracy, a supporter of free speech, online freedom, etc. Buhari is the Chief DE-MARKETER of Nigeria. https://t.co/7mbQ2DpVgu pic.twitter.com/2Aqkla2oQh

— Mazi @FestusGreen  (@FestusGreen) April 12, 2021.

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.

— Major Gen. OLUCHI   (@General_Oluchi) April 12, 2021.

In a bid to calm the angry comments on Twitter, Tolu Ogunlesi, special assistant on digital/new media to President Muhammadu Buhari, sent a couple of tweets of some technology companies that had set up offices in Nigeria, saying there’s no need to fight over the choice of Ghana as Twitter’s headquarters in Africa.

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

Ghana got Twitter, Nigeria got Facebook (operational H2 2021). God be praised. Let’s be happy for each other. Not everything is a fight, dears. Ghana, congratulations.  https://t.co/EnMnjfd7kM

— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) April 12, 2021.

When Microsoft opened $100m development centers in Nigeria and Kenya @MicrosoftADC (first two in Africa!) nobody went about dissing South Africa or politicizing anything. Because it’d have been silly. Grow up, guys! https://t.co/wbb00WsAYJ

— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) April 12, 2021.

Jan 2020: GOOGLE: “Today, we launched our first Google Developers Space on the African continent, in Lagos, Nigeria. The Google Developers Space is a hub for African developers, entrepreneurs & startups & will house the Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa.” https://t.co/RcqVCUPkxF

— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) April 12, 2021.

His tweet didn’t go down well as some Twitter stoners contended that the option of Ghana for Twitter headquarters in Africa shows the harsh anti-business policies of the federal government.

Comparing Hq to SBU https://t.co/3ehJTvZX1k

— KiZUSHiKARiKiRiN… (@KAHZKAHZ) April 12, 2021.

You don’t understand what just happened. This is more massive than anything in recent times. It was also an objective decision, which means Nigeria fell short on decision criteria. There is nothing to be conciliatory about. Leadership failed us. Period.

— Babatope Falade (@FaladeBabatope) April 12, 2021.

If Twitter refuses to put their headquarters in Nigeria, their biggest market in Africa if I am not mistaken, then it’s beholden on Nigeria to put pressure on them if possible. It’s also a business decision that we need to sit with them to find out why. https://t.co/AJbqqfdS9w

— Alabi Bunmi (@balabius) April 12, 2021.

you people should rest https://t.co/0el4M0y4yu

— M.S. MUHAMMAD (@AmMuhammad1886) April 12, 2021.

But Facebook Africa’s headquarters is in South Africa, not Nigeria. Facebook would only be opening an office in Lagos. Not the same. Ghana is getting Twitter HQ

— Eniola Akinkuotu (@ENIBOY) April 12, 2021.

Uncle the Twitter in Ghana is their African headquarters just like the Facebook African headquarters is in SA. It is not of the same magnitude lol. https://t.co/9H1AZxYn4f

— Danjalous Liquid Metal (@Sakagucheee) April 12, 2021.

Meanwhile, Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghanian President, has welcomed the development and tweeted in reply to Dorsey’s tweet.