SINGAPORE: A video from an African travel vlogger is making the rounds five years after it was first posted, getting shared on TikTok and Reddit with the vlogger exclaiming how well Singapore has done over the past decades.
Wode Maya is a Ghanaian YouTuber with over 1.5 million followers on YouTube.
He is well-known across the globe and was even featured on CNN in May.
He has a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Shenyang Aerospace University, China, but has focused on creating content about Africa.
In 2019, he posted a series of videos about his visit to Singapore, and one with the title “Why African Countries Can’t Be Like Singapore?” has over 100,000 views.
A 41-second clip from the video was shared earlier this month on the @serenelovelife account on TikTok and then subsequently on Reddit on July 12.
In the clip, the YouTuber, whose real name is Kobina Ackon, says he feels that in Singapore, he’s “in heaven because this place is super clean.”
@serenolovelife SG is definitely better #fypsg🇸🇬 #trendingsg #singaporetiktok #singaporetrending
Mr Ackon further marvelled that Singaporeans “did it by themselves” without the help of foreigners.
He added that he wanted to compare Africa with Singapore due to historical similarities, in that the British had also colonized Ghana.
Ghana had obtained independence even earlier than Singapore did in 1957.
“Kenya was colonized by the British. But yet you cannot compare Kenya with Singapore. Can you compare Singapore with Ghana? No way,” he added.
The full video can be viewed below.
In the TikTok video, commenters thanked Mr Ackon for praising Singapore and added that the city-state is clean and “one of the safest places on the earth.”
Others chimed in to say that Singapore has had good leadership, foremost in its founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
One pointed out one significant difference: “Singapore is merely a tiny dot but Africa is super huge.”
Some commenters were more encouraging, writing, “Ghana Bros, I believe Africa can do it too!” and “Africa will have its moment.”
On Reddit, some users also noted the differences between Singapore and Africa.
“The main difference is corruption. Singapore is lucky to be blessed with leaders who led with the interest of Singapore and not their own pockets.
When it comes to inherent strengths, Ghana and Kenya definitely beat Singapore with their ample natural resources, but they were all exploited for individual benefits rather than for the country.
Singapore had no inherent strengths other than a good location and hard-working people.” /TISG
Read also: Nigerian or Ghanaian? TikTok users debate over what the Singaporean accent sounds more like
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