African ICT leaders call for tax cuts on digital gadgets

Malō and lelei,

This is Victoria from Techpoint,

Here’s what I have for you today:

• African ICT leaders call for tax cuts on digital gadgets
• Ghana reports 38 loan apps to combat cyberbullying
• Content Creators in Nigeria and Ghana Can Now Earn Money on Meta

African ICT leaders call for tax cuts on digital gadgets

At the LEAP Summit in Shanghai, China, African telecoms and ICT leaders called on governments across the continent to lower the cost of digital devices to bridge the digital divide and increase efficiency across sectors.

The summit, part of the Mobile World Congress trade show that runs from June 24 to 28, brought together key players to discuss digital progress.

John Mo, secretary general of the African Telecommunications Union, called on technology companies to work with governments to set up manufacturing facilities in Africa.

He stressed that affordability is a major issue, especially in rural areas where digital literacy is low. He stressed that reducing taxes on gadgets and digital services would help bridge the access gap.

Mo also stressed the need to empower young people to use digital tools for their own well-being. He noted that the median age of young people in Africa is 19, which represents a huge potential for digital growth. He called for collaboration between governments and technology companies 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 noted that more than 90% of digital devices in Uganda are imported and heavily taxed, making them difficult to access. Nantongo also invited tech companies like Huawei to set up manufacturing facilities in Uganda.

Zimbabwe’s ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera has urged young people to embrace ICT in the future. Meanwhile, Kenya’s Principal Secretary of Education Dr Beatrice Muganda has called on global technology companies to transform African universities into training centres to produce more skilled graduates.

---

Ghana reports 38 loan apps to combat cyberbullying

The Ghana Cybersecurity Authority (GCA) has identified 38 digital lending mobile apps that are linked to cyberbullying.

In 2024 alone, 130 reports of users being harassed by these apps were received, indicating an increase in the number of such cases.

These apps breached the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act 2016 (ACT 930) and did not meet compliance standards set by the Data Protection Commission (DPC), leading to the misuse of user data and their personal information.

The GCA explained that when users install these apps, they often give them access to their data, including contacts, photos and personal details such as their Ghanaian ID card.

To the surprise of users, the money is transferred to their mobile wallets without even asking for a loan. A week later, the app operators start to force repayment of high-interest loans by threatening to share nude photos, real or fake, on social media or by blackmailing the victim, calling them a thief or a criminal.

Even after victims have repaid the requested amounts, the scammers continue to demand more money. The GCA warns people to avoid these apps, emphasizing that those who use them do so at their own risk.

Moreover, in January 2023, the GCA also published a list of digital lenders involved in cyberbullying. This situation highlights the ongoing struggle to regulate and protect users from abuse by rogue digital lending apps.

---

Content Creators in Nigeria and Ghana Can Now Earn Money on Meta

Content creators in Nigeria and Ghana can now earn money from advertising on Meta platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

The change, announced by Meta on June 27, previously prevented creators with Nigerian and Ghanaian addresses from monetizing on Facebook unless their page was managed from an eligible country.

According to NapoleonCat, as of May 2024, there were over 50 million Facebook users in Nigeria and over 10 million in Ghana. Now, creators in both countries can earn money through in-stream and live ads.

Meta automatically places ads in natural breaks of videos or lets creators choose their placement. Revenue depends on advertisers and video views.

In-stream ads include pre-roll ads (before the video), mid-roll ads (breaks in the video), and display ads (static ads below the video). After-roll ads can play after the video content. Other monetization options include reel ads, bonuses, and subscriptions.

In April 2024, Ghana began taxing content creators and influencers who earn money on platforms like YouTube, X, and TikTok, including remote workers on Fiverr and Upwork. With this new development, creators who earn money on Meta platforms could also be taxed.

---

Last week at Techpoint Africa

What am I watching?

Possibilities

• EarlyNode is looking for a Technical Writer. Apply here.
• Paystack is hiring for several positions in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana. Apply by July 7, 2024 here.
• Techpoint Africa is looking for three editorial assistants. Apply here.
• Ventures Platform has over 100 job openings across its portfolio companies. Apply here.
• Moniepoint is hiring for 70 positions across the UK and several states in Nigeria including Lagos, Abia and Anambra. Check them out here to apply.
• Browse this website to find many data science jobs that match your preferences.
• If you are a software engineer, creative designer, product manager, design researcher or technical person looking for an internship, check out this website.

Have a nice Thursday!

Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.