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

Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, known as the “Father of the Internet in Africa”, has spoken about the challenges he faced because of his work with the PNDC regime. In an interview with Kafui Dey, he said that at the time, many people did not understand the internet and were suspicious of him to the extent that some believed he could read their emails, break into their private information, or spy on them. “Some thought I could even read your mail and everything. People were suspicious of the Internet and also of me. They thought I was a spy. They thought I could break into people's things and so on and so forth,” he shared. Prof Quaynor said his work with the PNDC and some government-related organisations made his situation difficult after the regime changed. He said people close to him were arrested, and he also became a target. “I was working closely with the PNDC and quasi-government organizations that were sensitive… I knew. The moment the regime changed, it was obvious [that it would be shut down]. I mean, they were dragging people close to me to jail and all kinds of things. It was obvious they were being persecuted, and I was no exception,” he recalled. He said a land issue involving his office at Ridge was later used against him. According to him, the land belonged to the people of Osu, and he could not personally claim ownership of it because he was from Osu. “I'll say that some supposedly rich guy with a lot of gold-related resources was claiming the land [my office was built on], and so they used that as a cover to inflict (sic). AIT President challenges graduates to keep developing their capabilities “My office was in Ridge, but that land actually belongs to Osu people, and I'm from Osu, so I could not lay claim to it because if you are not using the land for the purpose for which it was granted to you, it should go back to us, but instead, they wanted to take it,” he added. Prof Quaynor also said that he was openly attacked by people who wanted to get close to the new regime. He said the attacks affected his work and caused him to lose his business. “The attack was frontal. The person even went to Joy and insulted me and all kinds of things to talk to me. At that time, we were being victimized, and there were some people who were running towards the new regime, and they thought I would be a good hack so I was hacked. I lost all that business,” he revealed. Prof Quaynor is internationally recognized as the “Father of the Internet in Africa” for establishing the first internet service provider in Ghana and West Africa, operated by Network Computer Systems Ltd. MAG/VPO Inside Ghana’s Abandoned Engineering Powerhouse: What Went Wrong? Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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