‘I still feel betrayed by my own country’ - Prof Nii Narku Quaynor

Ghanaian internet pioneer, Prof Nii Narku Quaynor, has said that he still feels betrayed by Ghana after his company, Network Computer Systems (NCS) was shut down years ago.

Speaking with Kafui Dey, Prof Quaynor, who played a key role in the development of Ghana’s internet infrastructure, said he believes the decision was largely driven by a lack of understanding of the work he and his company were doing.

FLASHBACK: All about the Ghanaian man who introduced the internet to West Africa

“I still feel betrayed by my own country because I don't think they understood what was going on and they still don't understand what's going on. It's too big. They still don't understand; if they did, we'd be galloping, that's my perspective,” he said.

Prof Quaynor disclosed that he obtained a PhD in Computer Science in 1977, at a time when the field was still developing.

He said his level of expertise made it difficult for people without a similar background to fully appreciate the significance of his work.

“But how do you understand a PhD in computer science from 1977? It's difficult, isn't it? It's too much, so unless you're a student there, you're not likely to understand,” he stated.

Despite his disappointment, Prof Quaynor said he has forgiven those he believes were responsible for the decision that led to the shutdown of NCS.

He said he did not believe they acted with the intention of deliberately harming him, but rather out of ignorance and self-interest.

“I've forgiven everybody. Well, because I was playing the role of a pioneer, I could easily forgive people so that was not a hard bit for me at all. If I felt that they were doing it maliciously, it would have been difficult, but in my thinking, they were doing it out of ignorance and out of self-interest, so it's easy to forgive them,” he added.

Prof Quaynor added that had his company not been shut down, it would have made bigger strides for the country and the African continent at large.

He recalled how the company was involved in internet broadcasting before some major international media organisations adopted the technology.

‘They thought I was a spy’ - Prof Quaynor on early days of internet in Ghana

“We were broadcasting on the internet long before even CNN and all these things started,” he said.

I still feel betrayed by my own country, Ghana

Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor opens up about the pain of seeing his business, Network Computer Systems, shut down. Despite feeling betrayed, he says he has forgiven those behind the decision, believing their actions were driven by ignorance

Watch full interview here https://t.co/GAE9UCp1D8

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— Kafui Dey (@KafuiDey) October 7, 2026