Twitter chief Jack Dorsey said this week that he plans to move to Africa for up to six months next year. The tech executive announced the planned move following a month-long trip visiting entrepreneurs on the continent.

“Sad to be leaving the continent … for now. Africa will define the future (especially the bitcoin one!),” Dorsey tweeted from Addis Ababa on Wednesday. “Not sure where yet, but I’ll be living here for 3-6 months mid 2020. Grateful I was able to experience a small part.”

Asked for comment, Twitter said in an email: “We’ve nothing to share beyond Jack’s initial tweet.”

Dorsey began traveling Africa on 8 November and visited Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, CNN reported.

In Ethiopia, he listened to startup pitches. In Nigeria, he had meetings with entrepreneurs and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Twitter board member who formerly worked as managing director of the World Bank.

Software developer Dara Oladosu, who created the Twitter bot Quoted Replies, which aggregates comments on tweets, received a job offer after meeting company executives, CNN said.

Dorsey also met bitcoin business owners in Ghana. Dorsey has expressed plans to integrate bitcoin use on Twitter and the payment app Square, according to CNN.

Africa’s tech industry is presently experiencing rapid growth. GSMA, a mobile services industry group, said there were 618 “active tech hubs” on the continent this year, up 40% from 2018. According to GSMA, Nigeria and South Africa have the most, with 85 and 80, respectively.

The Kenyan tech entrepreneur John Karanja launched BitHub, an incubator for cryptocurrencies, in 2015. Ethiopia’s government reportedly hopes that a tech-centric economy could create 3m jobs.

Dorsey’s African tour comes as social tech giants continue to face criticism over the spread of hate speech and misinformation online. Dorsey announced in October that Twitter would ban political advertising, putting pressure on Facebook to enact a similar policy.

Source: theguardian.com

Hundreds of Vodafone cash subscribers have yet again participated in one of the exciting pre-Xmas shopping experiences in Accra.

The one-day cashless bazaar held at the forecourt of Vodafone Ghana Head Office on Friday offered customers heavy discounts on a variety of items.

The periodic arts, fashion and food fair organized by Vodafone gives its Vodafone cash subscribers and the public an opportunity to shop from more than hundred carefully selected vendors, at massive discounts using Ghana’s most secured mobile money platform, Vodafone Cash.

Speaking at the Bazaar, Martison Obeng-Agyei, Head of Vodafone Cash, said, “The Vodafone Cash pre-Xmas is a continuation of our Vodafone Cash Bazaar in June. Customers requested for another edition because they were very happy with the discount they got on their previous purchases.

“They are very satisfied with our mobile money service transactions that allow them to purchase anything from Vodafone Cash wallets without charges.”

He said apart from the primary aim of the event to reward Vodafone Cash subscribers with massive discounts, they also used the platform to encourage customers and the public at large to send money via Vodafone Cash.

So far, Vodafone the only mobile money operator that allows subscribers to send money from their wallets to other Vodafone Cash wallets without charges.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, has been adjudged the best CEO in telecoms at the Industry CEO Awards, held over the weekend.

The awards event, which was based on 100 per cent public votes and delivered through SMS, is an annual event aimed at identifying and publicly recognising the most outstanding Chief Executives across a wide range of sectors.

Commenting on the award, Patricia said, “It is truly delightful to be acknowledged. I thank Ghanaians for recognising my commitment towards innovation and transformation.

“This award really reflects the tremendous work of our dedicated employees and senior management, who have been supportive and remarkable; as well as the great products, and quality network delivery over the period.”

The award is an affirmation of the impact Mrs Obo-Nai is already making, barely seven months in office.

Key amongst these is the simplification of Vodafone’s products and the introduction of the industry-first real family product - Vodafone One.

Additionally, she’s also displayed leadership in empowering 700 young girls with STEM education and digital coding; and network expansion.

Vodafone is currently offering its mobile money customers an unprecedented experience of sending money to other Vodafone Cash wallets without transfer charges.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Telecommunications giant, MTN Ghana has launched a campaign which will allow customers to choose a project they want to be implemented in a community of their choice in Ghana.

The initiative dubbed ‘Brighten Your Community’ being championed by the MTN Foundation will be run via the company’s social media handles: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The campaign officially starts on Monday, December 2, 2019, and ends on Monday, December 9, 2019.

Speaking at the launch, acting Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, said the campaign is to ensure customers support MTN Ghana to extend help to deprived areas in our country.

She noted that, MTN Ghana has allocated an amount of GHS 750,000 through its Foundation to be invested in three focus areas which are Education, Health and Economic Empowerment within three communities in Ghana.

“The top three communities at the end of the social-media-driven competition will be allocated GHS250,000 each to implement the selected projects,” she stated

Georgina Asare Fiagbenu added that, the campaign is part of their corporate social responsibility to delight customers and brighten their corner since 2019 is the ‘Year of the Customer’.

Source: Myjoyonline.com