Layoffs in Ghana

In September 2023, Ghanaian healthtech startup mPharma laid off approximately 150 employees, including 40 in Nigeria, citing tightening macroeconomic conditions and the devaluation of the Nigerian Naira. The company, which operates across nine African countries and has raised $90 million in funding, made this difficult decision to "right-size" its team as it refocuses on its core Mutti online pharmacy product. Severance packages were provided, with extended health insurance and stock option exercise periods for affected staff. This move aims to streamline operations to continue serving over 200,000 monthly patients through Mutti, amidst broader economic challenges.

In August 2022, Ghana-based social technology company Viamo conducted a significant layoff, described by a former employee as affecting "a lot" of staff, particularly within its global design and implementation teams in Asia. The company, which provides mobile communication services in local languages for NGOs, governments, and businesses, cited redundancy and internal restructuring as reasons, noting that fewer people could handle the existing workload. This move appears linked to financial strain, with the company reportedly "in the red" due to low revenue and a decline in venture funding. The layoffs may also reflect a post-pandemic adjustment, as Viamo had expanded rapidly during COVID-19 to run global misinformation programs with substantial funding, which has since diminished. This marked the second round of layoffs for the company.