On Thursday, Twitter began removing legacy blue checkmarks from user profiles, causing some high-profile figures, including Beyonce and Pope Francis, to lose their verified statuses.
Several Ghanaian celebrities who have yet to subscribe have had their legacy verification badge, which was previously displayed next to their profile name, removed.
Blue badges have been revoked for Sarkodie, Bridget Otoo, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Samini, Efya, D-Black, Serwaa Amihere, Black Sherif, Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Nelson, and Drake.
However, media personality Nana Aba Anamoah’s account still has the blue badge with the notification: “This account is verified because they are subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their phone number.”
The move comes as owner Elon Musk attempts to turn the social media company profitable.
Users who want to keep the check next to their name must subscribe to Twitter Blue for $84 (£67) per year.
Some people lost their ticks, while others kept them.
Despite having stated that he would not pay to be verified, LeBron James still has a blue tick, which is a “complimentary subscription” given to him by Elon Musk.
After a former professional baseball player sued the social media giant over imposter accounts, the company first implemented the verification feature in 2009.
The blue check became a status symbol and a symbol of power. Mr. Musk, on the other hand, wants users to pay to be verified in the new Twitter verse.
The decision to monetize verification could herald a significant cultural and power shift on the platform.
