Companies are trying to attract more smartphone users across Africa. But there are risks

ACCRA , Ghana — Anita Akpeere prepared fried rice in her kitchen in Ghana 's capital as a flurry of notifications for restaurant orders lit up apps on her phone. “I don’t think I could work without a phone in my line of business,” she said, as requests came in for her signature dish, a traditional fermented dumpling.

Even in Ghana, where the lingua franca is English, knowing how to use smartphones and apps can be a challenge for newcomers. Aker, the scholar, noted that the potential impact of mobile phones across Africa is immense but said there is limited evidence that paid health or agriculture apps are benefiting people there. She asserted that the only beneficial impacts are reminders to take medicine or get vaccinated.

Others are finding benefit with Uniti's platform. Mawufemor Vitor, a church secretary in Hohoe, said one health app has assisted her to track her menstruation to help prevent pregnancy. And Fianyo, the farmer, has used the platform to find information on herbal medicine.She also expressed concerns about the privacy of data in the hands of private technology providers and governments.

Still, the potential to provide solutions can outweigh the risks, Aker said, noting two areas where the technology could be transformative: education and insurance.

Source: News Formal (newsformal.com)

Mobile Phone Cheapest Smartphone Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Uniti Networks ACCRA Ghana Cyril Fianyo Africa African Languages Tufts University Smartphone

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