Category: English

Source: APO

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has opened the Fifth Session of the Ghana–China Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation.

He called for a stronger partnership focused on local processing, manufacturing and jobs, noting that although China is Ghana’s largest trading partner, the structure of trade must improve.

Dr Forson said Ghana wants to export more processed cocoa and other value-added products, while attracting Chinese investment that builds factories, transfers technology, supports local businesses and trains Ghanaian workers.

China’s Assistant Minister for Commerce, Zhang Li, commended Ghana’s recent economic progress and pledged deeper cooperation, including support for the Big Push Programme.

Present were Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Chief Director, Patrick Nomo and Director of External Resources Mobilisation, Isaac Fraikue.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance – Republic of Ghana.

Source: APO

Today, World Rugby Chairman Brett Robinson and Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) President and World Rugby Executive Board Member Herbert Mensah held high-level bilateral discussions with the Honourable Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, to discuss the future development of rugby in Zimbabwe beyond the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Organised by Zimbabwe Rugby Union, the governing body of rugby in Zimbabwe, the meeting formally acknowledged Zimbabwe’s qualification for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, marking the Sables’ first appearance at the global tournament since 1991, while also focusing on governance stability, high-performance planning and the long-term development of the game in Zimbabwe. During the meeting, the Honourable Minister Sanyatwe was joined by Hon. Emily Jesaya, Deputy Minister, and Dr. Biggie Samwanda from the Arts and Culture Directorate.

Honourable Minister Sanyatwe commended World Rugby’s global support and emphasised that governance reforms within the Zimbabwe Rugby Union have restored institutional stability, affirming the Government of Zimbabwe’s full backing for the national team as they prepare for fixtures across Australia.

“Thank you to the Government of Zimbabwe and the Honourable Minister for the warm welcome and for the support they continue to provide to rugby in this country. Zimbabwe’s return to the Rugby World Cup in 2027 is incredibly important, but equally important is the legacy we can create for rugby in this country beyond 2027. We applaud the governance structures that have been introduced, and it is very important that we see continuity. We want to continue to invest alongside the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and the Government of Zimbabwe in the future of the sport. Ultimately, our aspiration is to change the lives of young men and women through our sport, creating an environment where they can have aspirations, develop themselves and believe in what they can achieve,” said Brett Robinson, Chairman of World Rugby.

“Zimbabwe’s qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup is a great achievement, but we must see 2027 as the beginning, not the destination. There is so much more that Zimbabwe can achieve in rugby, and having the full support of the Government of Zimbabwe is critical to making that progress possible. I would like to thank the Honourable Minister, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, for his leadership and commitment to rugby and for the Government’s support of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union. With strong leadership, government support and the right structures in place, we can build on this momentum and create opportunities that will continue well beyond 2027,” said Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa and Executive Board Member at World Rugby.

The World Rugby delegation was led by Chairman Brett Robinson and included Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah, World Rugby Chief of International Federation David Carrigy and Dave Gilbert, Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa and former President of Botswana Rugby Union. The Zimbabwe Rugby Union was represented by Interim Management Committee Chair Paddy Zhanda and General Manager Takunda Chifokoyo.

The delegation reviewed the Sables’ competition and preparation programme, including their integration into World Rugby’s expanded international competition pathway and upcoming November 2026 Nations Cup fixtures. The discussions also centred on expanding grassroots participation and elevating Rugby Sevens as a key development vehicle ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

Rugby Africa will also continue to work closely with the Zimbabwe Rugby Union to support long-term governance continuity and ensure that the country is well positioned to maximise the opportunities presented by its return to the Rugby World Cup stage in 2027.

The bilateral engagement underlined the shared commitment of the Government of Zimbabwe, World Rugby, Rugby Africa and the Zimbabwe Rugby Union to use the momentum of Rugby World Cup qualification to strengthen the game from grassroots to elite level and build a legacy for rugby in Zimbabwe.

To commemorate the milestone, Robinson formally presented the Honourable Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, and Deputy Minister Emily Jesaya with an official World Rugby ceremonial salver and the official Rugby World Cup 2027 match ball featuring Australian Indigenous artwork, formally welcoming Zimbabwe back to the pinnacle of world rugby.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.

To Download Copyright Free Images:
https://apo-opa.co/4hRM5ea

Media Contact:
Naeema Talati
Communications and Marketing Manager for Zimbabwe Rugby Union
marketing@zru.co.zw

Nicole Vervelde 
Communications Manager for Rugby Africa
nicole.vervelde@rugbyafrique.com  

About Zimbabwe Rugby Union:
The Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) is the national governing body for rugby in Zimbabwe, responsible for the administration, development, promotion and growth of the sport across the country. ZRU oversees Zimbabwe’s national teams and rugby pathways, including the Sables, Cheetahs and age-grade representative teams. Through its development programmes, competitions, high-performance structures and partnerships, ZRU works to grow rugby at grassroots, schools, tertiary, club and provincial levels while creating opportunities for players, coaches, match officials and administrators to progress within the sport. ZRU is committed to strengthening Zimbabwe’s position on the international rugby stage while using rugby as a platform for national pride, youth development, community engagement and opportunity.

About Rugby Africa: 
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 40 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby. 

Source: APO

The COMESA Monetary Institute (CMI) brought together experts from central banks across the COMESA region in Nairobi from 17 to 19 August 2026 to review progress made under the first stage of the COMESA Macroeconomic Convergence Programme (CMEC). The meeting examined how member countries are advancing towards achieving macroeconomic convergence targets that support regional integration and monetary cooperation.

Opening the meeting, Dr. Lucas Njoroge, Director of the COMESA Monetary Institute, highlighted the importance of assessing achievements and challenges under the programme. He noted that the COMESA Committee of Governors had approved the extension of Stage I by two years to December 2027 to align the programme with the continental African Monetary Cooperation Programme. He further highlighted recent progress in strengthening regional macroeconomic surveillance, including the approval of the COMESA Macroeconomic Convergence Peer Review Mechanism (CMEC-PRM), which aims to enhance accountability, policy coordination and peer learning among member countries. Therefore, he noted, the meeting would evaluate progress made so far, identify lessons learned, address challenges, and help shape the next phase of the programme.

The review found that many COMESA member states have made encouraging progress in maintaining stable economies. Improvements were recorded in controlling inflation, strengthening foreign exchange reserves, and supporting exchange rate stability. Countries have also made efforts to improve public finances following the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these achievements, the meeting noted that several challenges remain. Some countries continue to face rising public debt and difficulties in increasing domestic revenue collection. Reducing dependence on central bank financing of government budgets also remains an important area that requires further attention.

The meeting emphasized the need for continued reforms to strengthen public finances, improve revenue collection, maintain stable monetary policies, and support productive investments that contribute to long-term economic growth. They also welcomed the introduction of the COMESA Macroeconomic Convergence Peer Review Mechanism, which will help member states learn from one another and promote greater accountability in economic management.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

Source: APO – Report:

The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced that it is working to expand the supply and use of renewable energy.

Noting that the Ministry has been working to improve household energy supplies and enhance the efficiency of household energy appliances, Mr. Tesfay Gebrehiwet, Director of Renewable Energy at the Ministry, said that training is being organized for those engaged in producing smokeless ovens and other household appliances.

Indicating that the Ministry of Agriculture’s initiative to introduce smokeless ovens in 2000 is one notable example of these efforts, Mr. Tesfay said that the number of beneficiaries using smokeless ovens has increased to about 200,000.

Mr. Tesfay also said that efforts to introduce and expand the use of renewable energy for household, agricultural and other purposes, including solar, wind, geothermal, green-hydrogen and bioenergy, are yielding encouraging results.

Regarding solar energy, Mr. Tesfay said that the 34 megawatts of solar power installed in Dekemhare, 2 megawatts installed around Asmara and 2.25 megawatts installed in Areza and Mai-Dima are notable examples.

Mr. Tesfay went on to say that theoretical and practical capacity-building training has been provided by foreign and national experts and will continue in earnest. He also called for increased public understanding of solar energy systems and their proper use.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

Today, World Rugby Chairman Brett Robinson and Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) President and World Rugby Executive Board Member Herbert Mensah held high-level bilateral discussions with the Honourable Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, to discuss the future development of rugby in Zimbabwe beyond the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Organised by Zimbabwe Rugby Union, the governing body of rugby in Zimbabwe, the meeting formally acknowledged Zimbabwe’s qualification for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, marking the Sables’ first appearance at the global tournament since 1991, while also focusing on governance stability, high-performance planning and the long-term development of the game in Zimbabwe. During the meeting, the Honourable Minister Sanyatwe was joined by Hon. Emily Jesaya, Deputy Minister, and Dr. Biggie Samwanda from the Arts and Culture Directorate.

Honourable Minister Sanyatwe commended World Rugby’s global support and emphasised that governance reforms within the Zimbabwe Rugby Union have restored institutional stability, affirming the Government of Zimbabwe’s full backing for the national team as they prepare for fixtures across Australia.

“Thank you to the Government of Zimbabwe and the Honourable Minister for the warm welcome and for the support they continue to provide to rugby in this country. Zimbabwe’s return to the Rugby World Cup in 2027 is incredibly important, but equally important is the legacy we can create for rugby in this country beyond 2027. We applaud the governance structures that have been introduced, and it is very important that we see continuity. We want to continue to invest alongside the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and the Government of Zimbabwe in the future of the sport. Ultimately, our aspiration is to change the lives of young men and women through our sport, creating an environment where they can have aspirations, develop themselves and believe in what they can achieve,” said Brett Robinson, Chairman of World Rugby.

“Zimbabwe’s qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup is a great achievement, but we must see 2027 as the beginning, not the destination. There is so much more that Zimbabwe can achieve in rugby, and having the full support of the Government of Zimbabwe is critical to making that progress possible. I would like to thank the Honourable Minister, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, for his leadership and commitment to rugby and for the Government’s support of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union. With strong leadership, government support and the right structures in place, we can build on this momentum and create opportunities that will continue well beyond 2027,” said Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa and Executive Board Member at World Rugby.

The World Rugby delegation was led by Chairman Brett Robinson and included Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah, World Rugby Chief of International Federation David Carrigy and Dave Gilbert, Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa and former President of Botswana Rugby Union. The Zimbabwe Rugby Union was represented by Interim Management Committee Chair Paddy Zhanda and General Manager Takunda Chifokoyo.

The delegation reviewed the Sables’ competition and preparation programme, including their integration into World Rugby’s expanded international competition pathway and upcoming November 2026 Nations Cup fixtures. The discussions also centred on expanding grassroots participation and elevating Rugby Sevens as a key development vehicle ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

Rugby Africa will also continue to work closely with the Zimbabwe Rugby Union to support long-term governance continuity and ensure that the country is well positioned to maximise the opportunities presented by its return to the Rugby World Cup stage in 2027.

The bilateral engagement underlined the shared commitment of the Government of Zimbabwe, World Rugby, Rugby Africa and the Zimbabwe Rugby Union to use the momentum of Rugby World Cup qualification to strengthen the game from grassroots to elite level and build a legacy for rugby in Zimbabwe.

To commemorate the milestone, Robinson formally presented the Honourable Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, and Deputy Minister Emily Jesaya with an official World Rugby ceremonial salver and the official Rugby World Cup 2027 match ball featuring Australian Indigenous artwork, formally welcoming Zimbabwe back to the pinnacle of world rugby.

– on behalf of Rugby Africa.

To Download Copyright Free Images:
https://apo-opa.co/4hRM5ea

Media Contact:
Naeema Talati
Communications and Marketing Manager for Zimbabwe Rugby Union
marketing@zru.co.zw

Nicole Vervelde 
Communications Manager for Rugby Africa
nicole.vervelde@rugbyafrique.com  

About Zimbabwe Rugby Union:
The Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) is the national governing body for rugby in Zimbabwe, responsible for the administration, development, promotion and growth of the sport across the country. ZRU oversees Zimbabwe’s national teams and rugby pathways, including the Sables, Cheetahs and age-grade representative teams. Through its development programmes, competitions, high-performance structures and partnerships, ZRU works to grow rugby at grassroots, schools, tertiary, club and provincial levels while creating opportunities for players, coaches, match officials and administrators to progress within the sport. ZRU is committed to strengthening Zimbabwe’s position on the international rugby stage while using rugby as a platform for national pride, youth development, community engagement and opportunity.

About Rugby Africa: 
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 40 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby. 

Source: APO

Lasale Elementary, Junior and High School in Keren recognized 98 outstanding students who attained high scores in the eighth-grade and national school-leaving examinations during the 2025/2026 academic year, as well as exemplary teachers and parents.

The award recipients included 55 students who scored over 90 points in the eighth-grade national examination and 43 students who attained GPAs above 3.0 in the national school-leaving examination. Sixteen teachers and five parents were also recognized for their outstanding contributions.

Highlighting the significance of recognizing outstanding students in motivating their peers, Mr. Habtom Haile, Director of the school, said that the increasing number of students attaining high scores in national examinations attests to the value of such initiatives.

The Chairman of the parents’ committee, for his part, called for strengthened cooperation among students, parents and teachers to achieve better results.

Noting that the school’s achievements attest to the strong cooperation among students, parents and teachers, Mr. Kiflai Andemicael, Head of the Education Office in the Anseba Region, said that the school serves as an example to other schools.

According to the report, of the 218 students from Lasale Elementary, Junior and High School who sat for the 2025/2026 eighth-grade national examination, 214 achieved passing marks. Of the 134 students who sat for the national school-leaving examination, 86 attained scores qualifying them for degree programs and 28 for diploma programs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

A seminar focusing on the eradication of harmful practices was conducted for partner institutions in the Southern Red Sea Region from 19 to 21 August. The seminar was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the police, social service institutions, and reconciliation committees.

The seminar, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health, and the National Union of Eritrean Women branch in the region, focused on women’s and children’s rights; the objectives and significance of public registration; traditional values and their influence; cases and their resolution; harmful practices from a legal perspective; and the consequences of female genital mutilation, among other topics.

The objective of the seminar was to enhance public understanding and participation in efforts to eradicate harmful practices, particularly underage marriage and female genital mutilation.

Ambassador Mohammed Sid Mantai, Governor of the region, called on the participants to play a leading role in efforts to eradicate harmful practices.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

AFC Capital Partners (ACP), the asset management subsidiary of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), has launched the Infrastructure Climate-Resilient Fund Nigeria (ICRF Nigeria) as a dedicated platform to mobilise domestic institutional capital for investment in climate-resilient infrastructure projects across Nigeria and the wider African continent.

Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a closed-end fund, ICRF Nigeria is designed to channel capital from pension fund administrators (PFAs), insurers, asset managers and other Nigerian institutional investors towards a diversified portfolio of commercially viable high-impact infrastructure opportunities.

ICRF Nigeria forms part of ACP’s US$750 million Infrastructure Climate-Resilient Fund (ICRF), a pioneering vehicle designed to strengthen the resilience of Africa’s infrastructure by embedding climate considerations throughout the asset lifecycle—from planning and design to construction and operation. The Fund addresses a critical challenge for the continent: ensuring that the infrastructure underpinning Africa’s growth can withstand increasingly severe and unpredictable climate impacts.

ICRF has attracted participation from leading global and African institutional investors, including a US$253 million first-loss commitment from the Green Climate Fund (GCF)—its largest equity investment in Africa to date—alongside the European Investment Bank (EIB), Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and several African pension funds. ACP expects to mobilise up to US$3.7 billion in total financing through ICRF and build a diversified portfolio of 10 to 12 infrastructure projects across Africa.

Samaila Zubairu, AFC’s President and CEO, commented: “Africa is not short of capital. The continent holds more than US$4 trillion in domestic resources, including significant pools of long-term capital in pensions, insurance and sovereign wealth funds. Yet too much of this wealth remains invested in low-risk, short-term instruments rather than being channeled into productive sectors such as infrastructure, industry and innovation.

“The opportunity before us is to create investment vehicles that connect Africa’s long-term savings with its long-term development needs. ICRF Nigeria is an important step in that direction, enabling Nigerian institutional capital to participate in the infrastructure that will drive more resilient and sustainable growth across Nigeria and the continent.”

Ayaan Adam, CEO of ACP, said: “ICRF Nigeria gives Nigerian institutional investors a dedicated route into high-quality, climate-resilient infrastructure investments across Nigeria and Africa. By combining institutional capital with AFC’s infrastructure expertise and the catalytic power of blended finance, we can address both the financing needs of critical infrastructure and the growing risks posed by climate change.

“Importantly, this creates an avenue for Nigeria’s long-term savings to contribute to infrastructure development while giving investors access to a diversified portfolio of opportunities across the continent.”

ICRF combines concessional and commercial capital to overcome barriers that have historically constrained investment in climate adaptation across Africa. Through blended finance and targeted de-risking mechanisms, the Fund integrates climate resilience into infrastructure from the outset, helping to unlock private capital for investment in projects that might otherwise be difficult to finance.

The Fund’s target sectors are critical to Africa’s economic transformation, including renewable energy, transport and logistics, digital infrastructure and industrial development. Its investment approach considers both physical and transition climate risks, including exposure to extreme weather, emissions pathways and climate governance. Each investment undergoes climate risk screening and assessment to embed resilience throughout the infrastructure lifecycle.

The Green Climate Fund plays a catalytic role through its provision of first-loss capital and technical assistance for climate risk assessment and monitoring, helping to de-risk investments and crowd in additional institutional capital.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile: +234 1 279 9654
Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Nineteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of energy, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested over US$20 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.

www.AfricaFC.org

About AFC Capital Partners:
AFC Capital Partners (ACP) is the wholly owned asset management subsidiary of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), established to transform AFC’s institutional expertise, investment track record and Africa-wide platform into investable products for third-party capital. ACP manages investment vehicles that provide institutional investors with access to high-quality infrastructure opportunities across Africa, leveraging AFC’s deep sector expertise, origination capabilities and project development platform.

ACP is registered in Mauritius and Nigeria and is a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-licensed fund manager in Nigeria. Through its fund management platform, ACP mobilises institutional capital and deploys it into investments that support Africa’s infrastructure development and long-term economic transformation.