Folarin Kehinde, Author at Leading Reporters

The American microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, on Monday, announced that it would open an office in Ghana for wider reach across the African continent.

“Twitter is now present on the continent. Thank you, Ghana, and @NAkufoAddo,” the company’s CEO, Jack Dorsey, tweeted.

Some Nigerians have seen the move as a slap on the country given the fact that there are more social media users in Nigeria than in Ghana.

READ ALSO: Graduates live from hand to mouth as Nigeria unemployment quadrupled to 33% since 2015

As of January 2021, Nigeria had about 32 million active social media users, while Ghana accounted for about 8 million active social media users, according to Statista.com.

Explaining its decision to start off in Ghana, the social media company stated that the country modelled what true democracy was all about.

It added that the country was the least place in the continent where free speech (on social media) is being suppressed.

“Today, in line with our growth strategy, we’re excited to announce that we are now actively building a team in Ghana. 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.

“We are looking for specialists to join several teams including product, design, engineering, marketing and communications.

“Full details on current job openings can be found on the Twitter Careers site. Aligned with our existing WFH policies, we look forward to welcoming and onboarding our new team members remotely so that we can make an immediate impact while we explore the opportunity to open an office in Ghana in the future.

READ ALSO: The Tottering Nigeria Ship of State

“As a champion for democracy, Ghana is 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,” Twitter stated on its website.

Reacting to the development, the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, thanked Jack for the consideration while assuring him of a good working environment.

“The choice of Ghana as HQ for Twitter’s Africa operations is EXCELLENT news. Gov’t and Ghanaians welcome very much this announcement and the confidence reposed in our country,” he tweeted.

The choice of Ghana as HQ for Twitter’s Africa operations is EXCELLENT news. Gov’t and Ghanaians welcome very much this announcement and the confidence reposed in our country. 1/3 #TwitterInGhana #TwitterGhana https://t.co/HdCqFgXK0x

— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) April 12, 2021

Kenny Folarin, Abuja

The Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) Muhammadu Muhammed has said that the Agency will continue to map vulnerable communities for emergency response based on Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP).

Muhammed while speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the Experts’ Technical Meeting of Stakeholders to analyze the 2021 Seasonal Climate Prediction noted that vulnerable communities will not be neglected as “NEMA will continue to map vulnerable communities based on the prediction as indicated by our climate risk monitoring agency to enhance and direct enlightenment campaign in critical states”.

Meanwhile, Muhammed stated that the technical meeting is relevant considering past experiences of unprecedented flood and other disasters that had affected several states of Nigeria and wreaked havoc on communities which had drastically affected the agency’s collected disaster resilience.

He added that the impact of these hazards on lives, properties and environment depends on the country’s level of preparedness which to a large extent relies on efficient early warning systems which stimulates early action mechanisms.

He however assured that NEMA will ensure mechanism that will allow stakeholders at Federal, State and Local Government as well as Communities levels to prepare adequately in order to mitigate and respond to anticipated climate risk and secondary hazards whenever the need arises.

Deputy Director, Planning, Research and Forecasting, NEMA, Mrs Fatima Kasim on her own part stated that the workshop will interpret the various implications of 2021 Seasonal Climate Prediction and also make recommendations in order to prepare for, propose mitigative actions and response to the expected impact of the predicted rainfall pattern especially, flooding.

Kasim, while reiterating the unwavering commitment of NEMA to disaster management noted that the target of the agency is to ensure that emergency situations across the country are handled in line with international best practices.

Folarin Kehinde

Folarin Kehinde

Twitter Snubs Nigeria, Opens Africa Office in Ghana

READ ALSO: Graduates live from hand to mouth as Nigeria unemployment quadrupled to 33% since 2015

READ ALSO: The Tottering Nigeria Ship of State

2021 Seasonal Climate Prediction: Vulnerable Communities will not be neglected – NEMA

The Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) Muhammadu Muhammed has said that the Agency will continue to map vulnerable communities for emergency response based on Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP).