The Vim Views & Versions - Blogs of a MIghTy African

My brothers and sisters in Ghana and across the continent, Once again, distressing images have flooded our timelines: Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa , shops attacked, harassment in townships, and the painful label of “xenophobia.” As I sit in Accra reflecting on my own experiences in Mzansi , my heart feels heavy. This piece, co-written with my South African alter-ego Siyabonga Mthimkhulu , draws from candid conversations I initiated with several South Africans , my personal travels, and realities many outsiders miss. We need understanding and #MoreVim , not just outrage. My connection to South Africa goes back to November 2011. I visited both Joburg and Cape Town while there for Google work. And then in May 2013, I was in Cape Town for the World Economic Forum on Africa — #shapeafrica . Wearing my GhanaThink Foundation , badge proudly, I immersed myself in sessions, networking, and cultural exchanges. The city greeted me with Table Mountain watching over everything, th...

Post the 2025 GhanaWeb Excellence Awards , I visited GhanaWeb ’s offices for an interview on their BizTech show. I answered questions about STEM in general, technology, entrepreneurship, youth development, innovation, and community building. What I didn't expect was to be put on the spot afterwards with a series of rapid-fire "this or that" questions. Waakye or Jollof ? NPP or NDC? Stonebwoy or Shatta Wale ? And some other questions that required quick decisions with no time to overthink. I've spent years speaking about technology, startups, volunteerism, leadership, and personal development, but sometimes the hardest questions are the simplest ones. After all, some choices can spark more debate than discussions about artificial intelligence or entrepreneurship! A lady came into the studio after Mawuli had interviewed me for GhanaWeb’s BizTech show . She said she wanted to record something for social media. She used her phone, very Gen Z like . This is the kind ...

When I learned that I had been nominated in the STEM category of the 2025 GhanaWeb Excellence Awards , I felt both honoured and humbled. I found out when 1 of the members of #DMVKonnect (who lives in Maryland) shared it in the Whatsapp Group . Awards are always appreciated, but this one felt particularly meaningful because of the long history and reputation of GhanaWeb. The awards ceremony was held on March 6, 2026 - Ghana’s birthday no less, which I attended with my sister, Stacey aka Panyin . I did not win, I lost out to Prof Elsie Effah Kaufmann , one of the greatest Ghanaians of her generation. When I reflected on the nomination recently, I found myself looking back through years of articles, interviews, features, and conversations that have connected my work with one of Ghana's most influential media platforms . In many ways, GhanaWeb has become an archive of my professional journey. Over the years, the platform has covered different aspects of my work as a technology advoc...