In an increasingly interconnected world, social media allows news in one
country to ‘cross’ borders into neighbouring countries, sometimes going viral
across the continent or the world.
When violent
clashes broke out in Ghana’s parliament, most major news agencies largely
reported the military invasion. But long before that, videos of the prior
clashes had begun spreading on social media.
The mocking
reactions came mostly from Nigerians, especially of the Carlos Ahenkorah ballot
snatching, Ursula Owusu – Akandoh seat fight before the military intervention.
“Ghana want to compete with
Naija in show of madness,” one Twitter user said of the Ursula Owusu – Akandoh
photo.
The Nigeria president’s digital
media strategist, Tolu Ogunlesi, also commented on the same photo: “Ghana
desperately wants to break the internet by force.”
Dele Momodou, publisher of the
Ovation magazine described the ballot snatching as a “SHAME.” Other social
media users across Africa from Uganda to Kenya expressed dismay at the reports.
An outlet popular with sharing
continental facts, Africa Fact Zone, posted the ballot snatching video on its
Twitter handle raking up thousands of views.
“Ghanaian MP, Carlos Ahenkorah receives beatings after he
snatched the ballots from the Clerk of Parliament. Some of the ballots were
recovered, while he chewed some,” their post said.
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