Mālō e lelei,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today:
- African ICT leaders urge tax cuts on digital gadgets
- Ghana flags 38 cyberbullying lending apps
- Content creators in Nigeria and Ghana can now earn on Meta
African ICT leaders urge tax cuts on digital gadgets
At the LEAP summit in Shanghai, China, African telecom and ICT leaders called on governments across the continent to lower the cost of digital gadgets to reduce the digital divide and boost efficiency in various sectors.
The summit, part of the Mobile World Congress from June 24 to June 28, brought together key players to discuss digital advancements.
John Mo, secretary general of the African Telecommunications Union, urged tech companies to partner with governments to set up manufacturing plants in Africa.
He highlighted that affordability is a major issue, especially in rural areas where digital literacy is low. He stressed that reducing taxes on digital gadgets and services would help bridge the access gap.
Mo also emphasised the need to empower young people to use digital tools for their prosperity. He noted that Africa’s median youth age is 19, presenting a huge potential for digital growth. He called for cooperation between governments and tech firms to unlock this potential.
Uganda’s ICT undersecretary, Sophia Nantongo, echoed Mo’s sentiments, calling for lower taxes on digital gadgets to make them affordable for young people. She pointed out that over 90% of digital devices in Uganda are imported and heavily taxed, making access difficult. Nantongo also invited tech firms like Huawei to set up manufacturing plants in Uganda.
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Zimbabwe’s ICT minister, Tatenda Mavetera, urged young people to embrace ICT for future opportunities. Meanwhile, Kenya’s principal education secretary, Dr. Beatrice Muganda, called on global tech companies to turn African universities into training hubs to produce more skilled graduates.
Ghana flags 38 cyberbullying lending apps
The Ghana Cybersecurity Authority (GCA) has identified 38 digital lending mobile apps involved in cyberbullying.
In 2024 alone, they've received 130 reports of users being bullied by these apps, showing a surge in such cases.
These apps violated the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institution Act, 2016 (ACT 930), and failed to meet the Data Protection Commission’s (DPC) compliance standards, leading to misuse of users' data and personal information.
The GCA explained that when users install these apps, they often grant access to their data, including contacts, photos, and personal identifiable information (PII) like the Ghana identity card.
Shockingly, users get credited with money in their mobile wallets without even requesting a loan. A week later, the app operators start extorting high-interest loan repayments, using threats of sharing nude photos, whether real or fake, on social media, or blackmailing the victim by calling them a thief or a criminal.
Even after victims repay the demanded amounts, these fraudsters continue to ask for more money. The GCA warned people to avoid these apps, emphasising that those who use them do so at their own risk.
What’s more, in January 2023, the GCA also released a list of digital lenders engaged in cyberbullying. This situation highlights the ongoing struggle to regulate and protect users from abusive practices by rogue digital lending apps.
Content creators in Nigeria and Ghana can now earn on Meta
Content creators in Nigeria and Ghana can now make money from ad revenue on Meta platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
This change, announced by Meta on June 27, previously blocked creators with Nigerian and Ghanaian addresses from Facebook monetisation unless their page was managed from an eligible country.
As of May 2024, there were over 50 million Facebook users in Nigeria and more than 10 million in Ghana, according to NapoleonCat. Now, creators in both countries can earn through in-stream and live ads.
Meta automatically places ads in natural breaks of videos or allows creators to choose their placements. Earnings depend on advertisers and the number of video views.
In-stream ads include pre-roll ads (before the video), mid-roll ads (breaks into the video), and image ads (static ads below the video). After-roll ads may play after the video content. Other monetization options include ads on reels, bonuses, and subscriptions.
In April 2024, Ghana started taxing content creators and influencers earning on platforms like YouTube, X, and TikTok, including remote workers on Fiverr and Upwork. With this new development, creators earning on Meta platforms may also be taxed.
Last week on Techpoint Africa
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- Bamboo expands to South Africa following launch of Nigerian stocks on platform
- The Zambian government and private sector to construct 520 communication towers
- Project Kuiper, Amazon’s plan to rival Starlink, delayed
- MTN South Africa challenges Vodacom’s spectrum pooling lawsuit
- GIGM and Travelstart partner to integrate their services on both platforms
- NIMC data breach: Why you should be scared
- Meet Ebehijie Momoh and Ugo Obasi, the ex Mastercard and Interswitch duo tasked with leading AfriGO
- Eyowo receives full licence reinstatement from CBN 3 months after securing approval in principle
- Starlink pushes more direct-to-cell satellites
- Flutterwave lays off 30 employees three months after discontinuing Barter
- Suspected Chinese hackers targeted Kenya government agencies
- Carbon’s debit card suspension questions viability of card business for fintech startups
- Nigerian banks begin paying ₦200 billion USSD debt, telcos decry slow pace
- South African government to take over price-setting powers from e-hailing companies
- Orange considers selling 40% stake in Mauritius Telecom, awaits formal buyback talks
- Kenya’s regulator denies plans to shut down Internet amid Finance Bill 2024 protests
- South African online shoppers kick against adjustment to new tax regulation
- CBN gives IMTOs naira access to increase remittances
- Kenya faces nationwide Internet disruptions amid Finance Bill 2024 protests
- Andela revolutionises tech recruitment with a new code insights feature
- Egypt’s Connect Money closes seed funding round of $8 million to support expansion
- Kenya’s President pushes controversial Finance Bill 2024 back to the Parliament
- Blockchain in Nigeria: “The focus is on hype; there’s no originality” — Senator Ihenyen
- Central Bank of Kenya issues licences to 7 more Digital Credit Providers
- Data for ₦100 update: Minister Bosun Tijani assures data breach under investigation
- Nigeria plans to extend fibre-optic network by 90,000 km to create more jobs
- First National Bank issues cyber threat warning to South African digital wallet users
- Zambia follows Nigeria in developing an AI framework
- How uLesson's present and past employees perceive Sim Shagaya's leadership style
- Kenya’s mobile money subscribers rise following Airtel code removal
- Naspers reports $14 million trading loss for Takealot, first-time profit for its food delivery business
- MTN and Airtel face possible sanctions for ignoring House Committee invitations on CSR initiatives
- Wakanow Group unveils its new website and product subsidiaries to enhance travel experience across Africa
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Opportunities
- EarlyNode is looking for a Technical Writer. Apply here.
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- Moniepoint is hiring for 70 positions in the United Kingdom and several Nigerian states, including Lagos, Abia, and Anambra. Check them out here to apply.
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Have an amazing Thursday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.