seriously by multinational companies, not all share this enthusiasm regarding the announcement. According to Ghanaian IT specialist Maximus Ametorgoh it calls for a critical evaluation of Google’s Africa venture, measuring the advantages and disadvantages of such plans. “Some of these tech giants come, invest in small businesses, and end up acquiring those businesses,” he told Deutsche Welle, warning that at times, companies like Google “kill” small businesses by paying off the innovators. “Africa then comes back to the same farmland,” he added.
Therefore, Amertogoh noted that it is imperative to assess the investment’s lasting impact on the continent. “For me, ownership is very key. Whatever business they [Google] are going to invest in. In the long term, is it going to be owned by the Africans or start-up founders or by Google?” the tech expert noted.
Nevertheless, some experts point out that Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and foreign aid play a key role in economic growth, particularly in terms of creating jobs and providing financial assistance.
“Up until recently, European countries like Greece, Italy, and others, were weak economically, but technically, aid and FDI have made Europe be where it is today. So there is probably no better time than now for Africa to have massive direct investment as well as massive aid,” development economist Shuiabu Idris said. “Indeed, Africa deserves that, particularly given the consequences of colonialism and slave trade that bedevilled Africa in the last two centuries.”
