EP1 Bonus Episode: What Are the Legal Repercussions of Twitter Layoffs in Ghana?

Season One

EP1 Bonus Episode: What Are the Legal Repercussions of Twitter Layoffs in Ghana?

Our monthly podcast on one policy issue on the continent. This week, we bring you a bonus episode in which our host discussed the ongoing negotiations between former Twitter employees and the tech giant in Ghana with lawyer Carla Olympio.

By APRI

Published on Mar 23, 2023

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter in October, 2023, he has laid off thousands of staff, cutting the company’s workforce by more than half. In Accra, Ghana where the Africa team is based, Musk disengaged all but one employee. Now, former staffers there are seeking redress for their firing, claiming Musk violated Ghana’s labor laws. In Accra, Olumide Abimbola speaks to Carla Olympio, the lawyer taking on the case.

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Guests

Carla Olympio is a corporate lawyer and communications specialist. She is the founder and Managing Partner of Accra-based Agency Seven Seven. Educated in Ghana and the United Kingdom, Olympio acquired broad experience in law and across the varied industries of media, mining and oil and gas before setting up the Agency. The lawyer is currently leading negotiations with Twitter on behalf of former employees based in Accra.

Further readings for those who want to learn more

The Africa Report, Google, Meta, Twitter... What Tech Giants Bring to Africa: https://www.theafricareport.com/272845/google-meta-twitter-what-tech-giants-bring-to-africa/
CNN, Twitter Africa Employees Accuse Elon Musk of Discrimination Over Severance Terms: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/21/tech/twitter-africa-elon-musk-intl-lgs/index.html
B&FT Online, Labour Laws Must Recognise Digital Platform Workers - Fairwork Ghana: https://thebftonline.com/2022/06/15/labour-laws-must-recognise-digital-platform-workers-fairwork-ghana/
Quartz, Twitter Fired More Employees after Elon Musk Said Layoffs Had Ended: https://qz.com/twitter-layoffs-2023-elon-musk-crawford-de-kuijper-1850162252
Data Cameroon, Josiah Kwesi Eyison: « The Africa-Europe relationship needs to be symbiotic »: https://datacameroon.com/josiah-kwesi-eyison-the-africa-europe-relationship-needs-to-be-symbiotic/
Brookings, Africa's Youth Can Help Solve the Global Tech Talent Shortage: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2022/11/08/africas-youths-can-help-solve-the-global-tech-talent-shortage/
Open Democracy, Facebook Lawsuit in Kenya Could Affect Big Tech Accountability Across Africa: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/facebook-meta-sama-daniel-motaung-court-kenya/
Giga Hamburg, How Big Tech and African Startups Are Reshaping the Continent: https://www.giga-hamburg.de/en/publications/giga-focus/digital-africa-how-big-tech-and-african-startups-are-reshaping-the-continent

APRI does not take institutional positions on public policy issues. The views expressed in publications are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of APRI, its staff, or its board.

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