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Government revises inflation target to 3%

Source: Government of South Africa

Government revises inflation target to 3%

In a landmark moment for South Africa’s monetary policy agenda, government has decided to reduce South Africa’s inflation target to 3%, with a 1 percentage point tolerance band.

This will reduce the cost of living and borrowing costs for households, businesses and government, supporting higher long-term economic growth and job creation. 

Presenting the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) at a sitting of the National Assembly at the Good Hope Chamber in Parliament, the Minister said the 1 percentage point band provides flexibility to accommodate any unexpected inflationary shocks

“This decision follows agreement between the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank and my consultations with the President and Cabinet. This new target immediately replaces the previous target range of between 3% and 6% and will be implemented over the next two years,” Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana said on Wednesday.

This is in line with South Africa’s approach to inflation targeting, which has always been a flexible one, looking beyond short-run deviations in inflation. 

“The Reserve Bank will pursue the target on a continuous basis and clearly communicate any deviations from the target. Over time, the lower target will decrease inflation expectations and inflation, creating room for lower interest rates.

“The short-term fiscal costs of a lower target, which include lower nominal Gross Domestic Product and revenue growth, will make achieving fiscal targets more challenging. 

“Yet the long-term benefits of taking this step far outweigh these costs. We remain committed to ensuring that our macroeconomic policies serve the best interests of all South Africans,” the Minister said.

A lower target aligns the country with international best practice and makes the cost of borrowing cheaper by reducing the inflation risk premium that investors demand to lend to South Africa.

The Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Reserve Bank will closely coordinate policy settings to maximise the economic benefits of the new target and enhance fiscal and monetary policy alignment.-SAnews.gov.za

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O Fundo para o Desenvolvimento das Exportações em África (FEDA) Anuncia Investimento Histórico na Africana de Processamento de Minerais e Metais (A2MP) para Impulsionar a Transformação Industrial e Mineira de África

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O Fundo para o Desenvolvimento das Exportações em África (FEDA), o braço de investimento de impacto em capital de desenvolvimento do Banco Africano de Exportação e Importação (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), tem o prazer de anunciar um investimento estratégico de 300 milhões de dólares americanos na Plataforma Africana de Processamento de Minerais e Metais (A2MP).

Este investimento reforça o compromisso do Afreximbank em apoiar o sector mineiro africano e garantir que a vasta riqueza mineral do continente se torne um catalisador para o crescimento económico sustentável, em vez de uma fonte de dependência contínua de recursos.

Alicerçada em mais de uma década de empreendimentos mineiros bem-sucedidos, a A2MP evoluiu para uma plataforma pan-africana diversificada, focada na mineração e no processamento. A plataforma visa desbloquear e expandir as cadeias de valor de minerais e metais de forma sustentável em todo o continente. Actualmente, a plataforma opera um conjunto sólido de doze (12) activos minerais e quatro centros de processamento, com uma carteira diversificada que abrange nove (9) países do continente.

Esta extensa presença coloca a A2MP na vanguarda dos esforços para desenvolver cadeias de valor integradas de minerais e metais, abrindo novos caminhos para o crescimento industrial e a integração no mercado global de África – especialmente num momento em que a indústria enfrenta desafios crescentes devido ao esgotamento das reservas de minério de alta qualidade e facilmente acessíveis.

A A2MP reúne uma carteira diversificada dos principais activos mineiros e empresas operacionais em várias classes de minerais, incluindo o ouro, a bauxite e a alumina, o manganês, o minério de ferro, entre outros. A A2MP vai igualmente desenvolver mais centros de processamento, incluindo para terras raras, precursores de baterias e outros minerais críticos, a fim de reforçar a valorização em todo o continente.

O Dr. George Elombi, Presidente do Afreximbank e Presidente do Conselho de Administração do Afreximbank e do FEDA, comentou: “Estamos satisfeitos por ter concluído com êxito este investimento na Plataforma Africana de Processamento de Minerais e Metais (A2MP), que está em conformidade com a nossa visão ampla de mudar a estrutura do comércio e da economia de África. Com este investimento, o Afreximbank está a ajudar o continente a fazer a transição estrutural da exportação de matérias-primas para um sistema totalmente integrado de mineração e produção local. O nosso investimento na plataforma vai aumentar a capacidade de processamento local e criar a infra-estrutura necessária para o acréscimo de valor de várias classes de minerais. A plataforma integrada da A2MP garante que uma maior parte da riqueza mineral do continente seja retida nas economias africanas, permitindo a criação de clusters industriais competitivos e empregos de alto valor.”

Gagan Gupta, Fundador da A2MP: “O apoio do FEDA e do Afreximbank marca um momento crucial para a jornada industrial de África. É mais do que uma parceria financeira; é uma afirmação ousada do potencial de África para liderar a cadeia de valor global de minerais e metais. Este investimento estratégico permite-nos expandir o nosso modelo totalmente integrado de extracção, processamento e transformação responsáveis, acelerando a criação de indústrias locais de alto valor em toda África. A nossa ambição é tornar a A2MP a espinha dorsal da próxima revolução industrial do continente, criar milhares de empregos e causar um impacto duradouro nas comunidades. Com o FEDA e o Afreximbank como os principais parceiros, estamos confiantes na nossa capacidade de mudar a perceção global de África, de um continente rico em recursos para uma potência de processamento e produção.”

Marlene Ngoyi, Directora Executiva do FEDA, observou que: “O nosso investimento na A2MP representa o tipo de investimento transformador que se alinha perfeitamente com a nossa visão para o futuro da exploração mineira em África. O modelo da plataforma assenta na manutenção da beneficiação e do processamento no continente, garantindo que o valor económico real da riqueza mineral de África seja absorvido localmente. Ao oferecer uma exposição diversificada numa ampla gama de minerais estratégicos, a A2MP destaca-se como uma plataforma única, capaz de criar profundidade nas cadeias de valor críticas, proporcionando igualmente resiliência e sustentabilidade.”

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Afreximbank.

Contacto para a Imprensa:
Vincent Musumba
Gestor de Comunicações e Eventos (Relações com os Meios de Comunicação Social)
Correio Electrónico: press@afreximbank.com

Sobre o Afreximbank:
O Banco Africano de Exportação e Importação (Afreximbank) é uma instituição financeira multilateral pan-africana com mandato para financiar e promover o comércio intra e extra-africano. Há mais de 30 anos que o Banco utiliza estruturas inovadoras para oferecer soluções de financiamento que apoiam a transformação da estrutura do comércio africano, acelerando a industrialização e o comércio intra-regional, impulsionando assim a expansão económica em África. Apoiante firme do Acordo de Comércio Livre Continental Africano (ACLCA), o Afreximbank lançou um Sistema Pan-Africano de Pagamento e Liquidação (PAPSS) que foi adoptado pela União Africana (UA) como plataforma de pagamento e liquidação para sustentar a implementação da ZCLCA. Em colaboração com o Secretariado da ZCLCA e a UA, o Banco criou um Fundo de Ajustamento de 10 mil milhões de dólares para apoiar os países que participam de forma efectiva na ZCLCA. No final de Dezembro de 2024, o total de activos e contingências do Afreximbank ascendia a mais de 40,1 mil milhões de dólares e os seus fundos de accionistas a 7,2 mil milhões de dólares. O Afreximbank tem notações de grau de investimento atribuídas pela GCR (escala internacional) (A), Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) e Fitch (BBB-). O Afreximbank evoluiu para uma entidade de grupo que inclui o Banco, a sua subsidiária de fundo de impacto de acções, denominada Fundo para o Desenvolvimento das Exportações em África (FEDA), e a sua subsidiária de gestão de seguros, AfrexInsure (em conjunto, “o Grupo”). O Banco tem a sua sede em Cairo, Egipto.

Sobre o FEDA:
O Fundo para o Desenvolvimento das Exportações em África (FEDA) é a subsidiária de investimento de impacto do Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com), criado para fornecer capital próprio, quase-capital e capital de dívida para financiar o défice de financiamento de vários milhares de milhões de dólares (especialmente em capital próprio) necessário para transformar o sector do comércio em África. O FEDA segue uma estratégia de investimento multissectorial ao longo do comércio intra-africano, desenvolvimento de exportações de valor acrescentado e cadeia de valor da indústria transformadora, que inclui serviços financeiros, tecnologia, bens de consumo e retalho, indústria transformadora, transportes e logística, agro-negócio, bem como infra-estruturas auxiliares que permitem o comércio, tais como parques industriais.  Até à data, o FEDA investiu mais de 1,3 mil milhões de dólares em empresas e projectos através das suas várias iniciativas de financiamento, em sectores como a indústria transformadora, a transformação agrícola, os serviços financeiros, os cuidados de saúde e os produtos farmacêuticos, entre outros.

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Le Fonds de développement des exportations en Afrique (FEDA) annonce un investissement historique en faveur de l’Africa Minerals and Metals Processing (A2MP) pour stimuler la transformation minière et industrielle de l’Afrique

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Le Fonds de développement des exportations en Afrique (FEDA), la branche de la Banque Africaine d’Import-Export (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) spécialisée dans l’investissement à impact sur le développement, se réjouit d’annoncer un investissement stratégique de 300 millions de dollars US en faveur de l’Africa Minerals and Metals Processing Platform (A2MP) [Plateforme africaine de traitement des minéraux et des métaux].

Cet investissement souligne l’engagement d’Afreximbank à soutenir le secteur minier africain et à faire en sorte que cette vaste richesse minérale du continent devienne un catalyseur de croissance économique durable plutôt qu’une source de dépendance continue aux ressources.

Forte de plus d’une décennie de succès dans le secteur minier, l’A2MP est devenue au fil du temps une plateforme panafricaine diversifiée, axée sur l’extraction et le traitement des minerais. La plateforme vise à débloquer et à développer durablement les chaînes de valeur des minéraux et des métaux sur tout le continent. La plateforme dispose actuellement d’un solide portefeuille comprenant douze actifs miniers et quatre pôles de transformation, avec une présence diversifiée dans plus de onze pays du continent.

Cette forte présence place l’A2MP à l’avant-garde des efforts visant à développer des chaînes de valeur intégrées pour les minéraux et les métaux, ouvrant ainsi de nouvelles voies pour la croissance industrielle de l’Afrique et l’intégration du continent au marché mondial – en particulier dans un contexte où l’industrie fait face à des difficultés accrues en raison de l’épuisement des réserves de minerais à haute teneur et facilement accessibles.

L’A2MP réunit un portefeuille diversifié d’actifs miniers et de sociétés d’exploitation de premier plan dans plusieurs catégories de minéraux, notamment l’or, la bauxite et l’alumine, le manganèse, le minerai de fer et les pierres précieuses. L’A2MP développera également des centres de traitement supplémentaires, y compris pour les terres rares, les précurseurs de batteries et d’autres minéraux essentiels, afin de renforcer la valeur ajoutée sur le continent.

Dr. George Elombi, nouveau Président d’Afreximbank et du Conseil d’administration de la Banque et du Fonds de développement des exportations en Afrique (FEDA) a déclaré : « Nous sommes heureux d’avoir conclu avec succès cet investissement au profit de l’Africa Minerals and Metals Processing (A2MP), qui s’aligne sur notre vision globale de transformer la structure du commerce et de l’économie en Afrique. Grâce à cet investissement, Afreximbank aide le continent à passer structurellement des exportations de matières premières à un système entièrement intégré d’exploitation minière et de fabrication locale. Notre investissement en faveur de la plateforme permettra d’accroître la capacité de traitement locale et de construire l’infrastructure nécessaire à la valorisation de multiples catégories de minéraux. La plateforme intégrée A2MP garantit qu’une plus grande part des richesses minières du continent reste au sein des économies africaines, favorisant ainsi la création de pôles industriels compétitifs et d’emplois à haute valeur ajoutée ». 

Gagan Gupta, Fondateur de l’A2MP a affirmé : « Le soutien du Fonds de développement des exportations en Afrique (FEDA) et d’Afreximbank marque un moment charnière dans le cheminement industriel de l’Afrique. Plus qu’un partenariat financier, il s’agit d’une affirmation audacieuse du potentiel de notre continent à diriger la chaîne de valeur mondiale des minéraux et des métaux. Cet investissement stratégique nous permet de faire évoluer notre modèle entièrement intégré d’extraction, de traitement et de transformation responsables en accélérant la création d’industries locales à forte valeur ajoutée à travers l’Afrique. Notre ambition est de faire de l’A2MP l’épine dorsale de la prochaine révolution industrielle de notre continent, de créer des milliers d’emplois et d’avoir un impact durable pour les communautés. Avec le Fonds de développement des exportations en Afrique (FEDA) et Afreximbank comme partenaires clés, nous sommes confiants dans notre capacité à changer la perception que le monde a de l’Afrique, d’un continent riche en ressources en une puissance de transformation et de fabrication ». 

Marlene Ngoyi, Directrice générale du Fonds de développement des exportations en Afrique (FEDA), a déclaré : « Notre investissement au profit de l’A2MP incarne le type d’investissement transformateur qui s’aligne parfaitement sur notre vision de l’avenir minier de l’Afrique. Le modèle de la plateforme repose sur la conservation de la valorisation et du traitement au sein du continent, garantissant que la valeur économique réelle des richesses minérales de l’Afrique est captée localement. En offrant une exposition diversifiée sur un large éventail de minéraux stratégiques, l’A2MP se présente comme une plateforme unique capable d’approfondir les chaînes de valeur critiques tout en assurant la résilience et la durabilité ». 

Distribué par APO Group pour Afreximbank.

Contact Presse :
Vincent Musumba
Responsable de la communication et des événements (Relations avec les médias)
Courriel : press@afreximbank.com

À propos d’Afreximbank :
La Banque Africaine d’Import-Export (Afreximbank) est une institution financière multilatérale panafricaine dédiée au financement et à la promotion du commerce intra et extra-africain. Depuis 30 ans, Afreximbank déploie des structures innovantes pour fournir des solutions de financement qui facilitent la transformation de la structure du commerce africain et accélèrent l’industrialisation et le commerce intrarégional, soutenant ainsi l’expansion économique en Afrique. Fervente défenseur de l’Accord sur la Zone de Libre-Échange Continentale Africaine (ZLECAf), Afreximbank a lancé les le Système panafricain de paiement et de règlement (PAPSS) qui a été adopté par l’Union africaine (UA) comme la plateforme de paiement et de règlement devant appuyer la mise en œuvre de la ZLECAf. En collaboration avec le Secrétariat de la ZLECAf et l’UA, la Banque a mis en place un Fonds d’ajustement de 10 milliards de dollars US pour aider les pays à participer de manière effective à la ZLECAf. À la fin de décembre 2024, le total des actifs et des garanties de la Banque s’élevait à environ 40,1 milliards de dollars US et les fonds de ses actionnaires s’établissaient à 7,2 milliards de dollars US. Afreximbank est notée A par GCR International Scale, Baa2 par Moody’s, AAA par China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI), A- par Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) et BBB par Fitch.  Au fil des ans, Afreximbank est devenue un groupe constitué de la Banque, de sa filiale de financement à impact appelée Fonds de développement des exportations en Afrique (FEDA), et de sa filiale de gestion d’assurance, AfrexInsure, (les trois entités forment « le Groupe »). La Banque a son siège social au Caire, en Égypte.

À propos du FEDA :
Le Fonds de développement des exportations en Afrique (« FEDA ») est la filiale d’investissement à impact d’Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com), créée pour fournir des capitaux propres, des quasi-fonds propres et des capitaux d’emprunt afin de financer le déficit de financement de plusieurs milliards de dollars (en particulier en capitaux propres) nécessaire pour transformer le secteur du commerce en Afrique. Le FEDA poursuit une stratégie d’investissement multisectorielle le long de la chaîne de valeur du commerce intra-africain, du développement des exportations à valeur ajoutée et de la fabrication, qui comprend les services financiers, la technologie, les biens de consommation et de détail, l’industrie manufacturière, le transport et la logistique, l’agro-industrie, ainsi que les infrastructures auxiliaires d’appui au commerce, telles que les parcs industriels.  À ce jour, le FEDA a investi plus de 1, 3 milliards de dollars dans des entreprises et des projets dans le cadre de ses différentes initiatives de fonds, dans des secteurs tels que l’industrie manufacturière, l’agroalimentaire, les services financiers, les soins de santé et les produits pharmaceutiques, entre autres.

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SARS welcomes MTBPS

Source: Government of South Africa

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has welcomed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s  Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), delivered on Wednesday, showing that the revenue service collected over R900 billion in revenue.

“By 30 September 2025, SARS had collected a net revenue of R924.7 billion, drawn from gross collections of R1 157.6 billion and refund payments of R232.9 billion. This marks year-on-year growth of R78.6 billion and an overall surplus of R18 billion against the printed estimates, indicating a promising trajectory for the second half of the financial year. Nearly 50% of the better than estimated performance came from compliance efforts,” the revenue service said on Wednesday.

In its statement, the revenue service welcomed the tabling of the MTBPS and the Minister’s revision of the 2025 Budget net tax-revenue estimate, from R1 985.6 billion to R2 005.3 billion.

Commissioner Edward Kieswetter expressed SARS’s support of the Minister’s statement, which charts a clear and pragmatic roadmap for South Africa’s fiscal sustainability.

“The MTBPS sets out bold measures to strengthen the country’s economic resilience. SARS is committed to supporting these objectives by focusing on robust revenue collection, improved compliance and trade facilitation through consistent effort, operational excellence, and innovation,” said Kieswetter. 

This as SARS’s compliance programme continues to deliver results. In the same period, SARS secured R131.6 billion from compliance activities, up from R122.6 billion in the previous year. 

Debt collections reached R47.1 billion, an increase of R3.3 billion (7.5%), reinforcing SARS’s contribution to the national fiscus.

The revenue service credited the SARS’s achievement to the effort of its employees and compliant taxpayers. 

“Behind these numbers are the dedicated SARS employees who perform millions of little things daily, and many compliant taxpayers whose contribution make this success possible. Their commitment is to help to strengthen South Africa’s fiscal outlook and build momentum for the future. These results underscore SARS’ effectiveness in revenue collection and is positive for the country’s fiscal outlook,” said the Commissioner.

Building on this momentum, revenue collection has demonstrated resilience across major tax categories. 

Collections from Corporate Income Tax (CIT), PAYE, Dividends Tax, Domestic VAT, General Fuel Levy (Imported), as well as lower-than-estimated VAT-refund payments, consistently outperformed expectations, reinforcing SARS’s role in sustaining fiscal stability.

On Corporate Income Tax (CIT): Year-to-date CIT Provisional Tax payments amounted to R164.5 billion, growing by R14.2 billion (9.5%) and exceeding the printed estimates by R4.7 billion (3.0%).

Collections were boosted by SARS invoking Paragraph 19(3) that yielded an additional R10.0 billion with the main contributors being companies in the Mining and Finance sectors. 

The mining sector continues to encounter significant challenges because of softening commodity prices for palladium, iron ore, and coal. These price fluctuations affect the profitability of companies, resulting in downward pressure on CIT provisional payments. 

On Pay As You Earn (PAYE), collections of R371.0 billion recorded growth of R30.9 billion (9.1%) against the prior year and exceeded the printed estimate by R3.2 billion (0.9%). 

The year-on-year growth was driven mainly by payments from employers in the finance and community sectors. 

Tax proposals announced at Budget 2025 included no inflationary adjustments to  Personal Income Tax (PIT) tax brackets and rebates; measures expected to yield R16.7 billion for the full year.

 “In the first half of the year, PAYE collections from Two-Pot withdrawals were based on a total gross withdrawal of R18.2 billion and taxable amounts valued at R5.2 billion.”

Meanwhile, dividend tax collections amounted to R22.3 billion, growing by R5.3 billion (31.0%) against the prior year and recording a surplus of R4.6 billion (25.7%) against the printed estimates. 

This included a significant once-off payment of R1.4 billion, whilst the main drivers of this growth were the finance, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail sectors.

Domestic VAT collections totaled R292.7 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of R21.1 billion (7.8%). This was driven mainly by growth in the finance, wholesale and retail, and manufacturing sectors, and partially offset by the transport sector.

Year-to-date Domestic VAT collections exceeded the printed estimates by R5.2 billion (1.8%).

In addition:
•    Import VAT significantly underperformed by R3.7 billion due to a lower growth in the value of imports 1.2%, which were expected to grow by 5.4% over the full year.
•    Lower than expected VAT refund payments, totaled R183.9 billion, or a marginal increase of R0.2 billion (0.1%) from the prior year. This positive outcome is the result of the continued focus on SARS efforts to curb impermissible and fraudulent refund claims. Refund risk management contributed most significantly to the solid improvement in overall Net VAT revenue.
•    General Fuel Levy collections of R44.7 billion were R2.1 billion (5.0%) higher than in the prior year and exceeded the printed estimates by R2.3 billion (5.3%). Fuel declarations for April to September 2025 recorded a total year-on-year net growth of 2.1% (241.9 million litres) in volume. Declarations from importers increased by 133.1% (3 605.3 million litres) and were partially offset by declarations from local manufacturers, which contracted year-on-year by 39.0% (3 363.4 million litres). 

SARS said these surpluses were partially offset by lower-than-expected collections from PIT Provisional taxes, PIT Assessments, and Customs taxes; as well as higher-than-estimated PIT refund payments.

This as PIT Refunds of R32.2 billion recorded growth of R4.5 billion (16.2%) against the prior year and exceeded the printed estimates by R1.4 billion (4.4%). In addition, 7.3 million PIT returns were received (compared to 6.6 million at the same time in the prior year). Of these, 5.7 million returns were auto-assessed compared to 4.8 million for the previous year. 

Integrity and trust 

Commissioner Kieswetter reaffirmed SARS’s commitment to building a smart, modern institution anchored in integrity and trust. 

“Our role extends beyond revenue collection; we advance national fiscal goals in the face of persistent challenges such as debt, unemployment, and inequality. With government depending on tax revenues for around 90% of expenditures, strong domestic resource mobilisation is essential to safeguard fiscal integrity and reduce reliance on external funding”.

To accelerate these gains at Budget 2025, Minister Godongwana allocated an additional R7.5 billion to SARS over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (2025/2026; 2026/2027; 2027/2028). –SAnews.gov.za

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Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings: the first lady who redefined women’s power in Ghana.

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Nancy Henaku, Lecturer, Department of English, University of Ghana

Tributes for Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (1948-2025) have been pouring in since her death on 23 October 2025. For many Ghanaians, her broad-ranging empowerment work as leader of the 31st December Women’s Movement is deserving of full recognition. The non-governmental organisation started as a women’s political movement and is still active.

Born on 17 November 1948, she became the wife of Jerry John Rawlings, who governed Ghana from 1981 until he handed over power in 2001.

Mourners, including Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, have referenced Agyeman-Rawlings’ social welfare interventions through her organisation as evidence of her achievements. These include the provision of credit facilities and advocacy for women’s and children’s rights. She also established daycare centres for children, adult literacy centres and edible oil extraction industries.

A dimension of Agyeman-Rawlings’ politics that has been mainly overlooked, however, is her rhetorical leadership. This refers to the various persuasive means through which she performed her roles as a public figure.

I am a scholar of English who studies how people use language and other communicative forms (such as sound and visuals) to influence public discourse. I have used rhetorical and linguistic methods to study various sources on Agyeman-Rawlings, including a personal interview I conducted with her in 2017.

Agyeman-Rawlings’ speeches and writing reveal her motivations for shifting prevailing ideas about women’s social roles, her complex responses to public anxieties about her power (real or imagined) and her attempt at disrupting the archives by narrating herself into history.

Advocating for change

Agyeman-Rawlings’ rhetorical leadership transformed the role of the first lady in Ghana. In her own words:

A first lady’s work does not end with the collection of flowers and doing some protocols … I’d rather work and be emulated than to sit down and not do anything and not change anybody’s life.

For this reason, Agyeman-Rawlings spoke and wrote extensively in national and international contexts. Her rhetoric of empowerment centred the plights of women, children and the poor. For instance, she asserted at Beijing that “for us in Africa, the girl child is a special concern.”

Agyeman-Rawlings articulated a cosmopolitan ideology shaped by multiple influences. These include UN rights discourses, the language of mothering (such as nurturing, protecting), liberal feminism with its emphasis on gender reform through legal means, and the populist rhetoric of the Rawlings regime, with its emphasis on people power.

An assessment of Agyeman-Rawlings’ legacy must recognise that speaking and writing for change involve extensive physical, mental and emotional energy. And for many years, under her husband’s military regime, she performed this role without the professional support of a communications team.

The sociologist Mansah Prah describes Agyeman-Rawlings’ tenure as the era of the “grand feminist illusion” because although her organisations were seemingly pro-woman, their activities did not result in substantial changes in the lives of women.

However, as my research suggests, discussions on the limitations of Agyeman-Rawlings’ advocacy must consider at least two factors. First, the patriarchal postcolonial state always constrains women’s mass efforts at transformation. Second, the discourses that influence Agyeman-Rawlings’ rhetoric are themselves contradictory. For instance, the term “empowerment” is a catchall phrase that means different things to different people. Its vagueness makes it a safe political term. It does not radically shift conversations on gender.

Contesting power

Agyeman-Rawlings had an intense political life. One could say that through her gendered advocacy and mass mobilisation, she politicised the first lady role. For that reason, she was highly scrutinised during her active political years. In response to efforts to restrain her power, she drew on ambiguous gendered rhetorics, moral values and familial legacy

She was variously accused of being corrupt, power drunk and ostentatious, often with sexist undertones.

People rumoured that she, as first lady, was the real power behind the presidency. When her husband was preparing to leave office, there were stories that she wanted to succeed him. One news report claims that she countered such allegations by saying: “I have never said anywhere that I want to be president” while implying that she could change her mind if her husband said so. It takes a keen rhetorical intellect to navigate the slippery political terrain Agyeman-Rawlings found herself in.

She remained politically active after her tenure as first lady ended. In 2011, she contested against John Evans Atta Mills, Ghana’s president at the time, for the candidacy of the National Democratic Congress, which she helped form. She would later defect from the party to form her own, the National Democratic Party.

In these complex political tussles, she consistently appealed to morality and truth. In one instance, she countered ten years of media “bashing” by claiming that she had been raised right. Her 2016 acceptance speech for the National Democratic Party candidacy centred on “what is right” for the “people”.

My interview with her and other primary sources point to the influence of the calm, ethical and non-ideological pragmatism of Agyeman-Rawlings’ father, J.O.T. Agyeman, in her appeal to morality. Her father was a technocrat who was connected to Ghanaians belonging to different sides of Ghana’s two main political traditions, the Nkrumahist and the Danquah-Busia traditions. According to Agyeman-Rawlings, her parents’ home was a space for “spirited” conversations shaped by her father’s emphasis on logical and ethical argumentation rather than parochial political interests. This suggests that examining African first ladies merely in relation to their husbands’ politics, however crucial, would be a limited view.

Disrupting the archive

Agyeman-Rawlings wrote a memoir, unusually for a Ghanaian woman politician. As the historian Jean Allman suggests, there is a connection between the erasure of women in Ghanaian politics and the absence of autobiographical writings by nationalist women. My studies argue that Agyeman-Rawlings’ narrative (though incomplete) should be read as a rhetorical disruption of the postcolonial archives. These archives tend to erase or subordinate women’s contributions within a dominant masculine framing of the nation-state.

Agyeman-Rawlings is not the only woman to have laboured for the nation-state. Other women like pro-independence activist Hannah Kudjoe who were involved in similar social welfare activities have been written out of Ghanaian history. Agyeman-Rawlings understood that despite her extensive work, words still mattered if she was to be remembered.

By asserting that “it takes a woman” to “birth” the strength and future of a nation, she boldly inserts a feminine voice into a postcolonial national allegory that centres men. By so doing, she demands a rereading of “great men” like Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, and Jerry Rawlings. And in the absence of a Jerry Rawlings autobiography, Agyeman-Rawlings’ writing becomes doubly subversive.

Because women have been historically marginalised from the public sphere, a female politician would be scrutinised whether or not she was vocal. Agyeman-Rawlings chose to be visible and outspoken.

– Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings: the first lady who redefined women’s power in Ghana.
– https://theconversation.com/nana-konadu-agyeman-rawlings-the-first-lady-who-redefined-womens-power-in-ghana-269013

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How a Sudanese university kept learning alive during war

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Gihad Ibrahim, Assistant Professor and E-learning Department Head, Mashreq University

The civil war in Sudan began in April 2023, causing death, hunger, displacement and destruction on a huge scale. Gihad Ibrahim, head of e-learning and senior manager at Mashreq University in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, spoke with The Conversation Africa about how his institution continued to educate thousands of students despite the destruction of its campuses during the ongoing conflict.

What was Mashreq University like before the war?

Mashreq University (established in 2003) was a thriving academic community of over 10,000 students across 10 faculties, including healthcare, engineering, information technology and business. We were known for innovation, being the first in Sudan to offer degrees in fields like artificial intelligence and mechatronics engineering. We ranked highly in both global and national rankings.

Our status as a private university allowed us agility in decision-making and investing in digital infrastructure early, a crucial factor in our later survival. However, our success was also rooted in operating within a national system that, before the war, permitted and accredited such innovation. This highlights a vital policy lesson: governments can foster resilience not by micromanaging, but by creating a regulatory environment that allows universities the autonomy to adapt and invest in their own futures.

Our main campus was in Khartoum North, a hub of student life.

Student life on campus at Mashreq University before the outbreak of war in 2023. Mashreq University/Facebook, Author provided (no reuse)

While teaching was primarily in-person, we had already begun integrating online elements for some courses. This digital foundation, though modest, would later become our lifeline.

We established a learning management system back in 2013. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, we were among the few Sudanese universities that could transition seamlessly online.

The damaged interior of a university building following its occupation. Mashreq University, Author provided (no reuse)

That crisis was a dress rehearsal; it forced us to build a system for blended learning that saved us when a far greater crisis emerged.

What happened when the fighting broke out in April 2023?

The war began on a Saturday morning – a normal teaching day. Students were already commuting. I remember I had a morning meeting with three female students working on their graduation project. I called one of them immediately and told her to warn the others and return home. Unfortunately, one didn’t get the message and was trapped near campus for two weeks – a harrowing reminder of the immediate human cost.

Our first priority was evacuation. But in those first chaotic hours, our information technology team performed a critical act: an emergency cloud backup of all academic records. It was a decision born of foresight, and it preserved the academic history of thousands.

Within weeks, our main campus was occupied by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). They looted laboratories and burned lecture halls. Because of the buildings’ height, they used them as military positions. Our campus was not just damaged; it was weaponised.

Damage to Mashreq campus. Mashreq University, Author provided (no reuse)

How did you keep teaching after such devastation?

Khartoum became a ghost city. With people fleeing in all directions – to other states or across borders to neighbouring countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia – our university community scattered. The first step was to find them. We launched an online survey to locate our displaced students and staff.

Using that data, we established a network of “teaching centres” in safer locations. We created hubs in Port Sudan (after relocating from the city of Atbara), and internationally in Cairo (in Egypt), Jeddah (in Saudi Arabia), and a virtual campus in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE group was smaller, but because many students there held temporary “war victim” visas that restricted travel, we offered live virtual classes instead of physical ones.

Students attending a class at one of the temporary teaching centres. Mashreq University/Facebook, Author provided (no reuse)

How does this new teaching model work?

We had to be strategic. We categorised every course:

Non-applied courses (like many in business or theory) moved entirely online. Applied courses (like lab sciences) were delivered face-to-face at the teaching centres.

Advanced specialised courses were taught live online to all centres simultaneously.

Consistency was key. Each course had a “lead lecturer” who coordinated content across all locations to ensure every student received the same quality. We partnered with local hospitals and factories for practical training, turning a constraint into an opportunity for real-world learning.

Exams were held online on university tablets, but invigilated in person at the centres to ensure integrity. The system was built on flexibility, but also on rigorous standards.

The e-learning infrastructure that allowed Mashreq University to continue teaching during the conflict. Gihad Ibrahim/Mashreq University, Author provided (no reuse)

What lessons has Mashreq University learned?

We learned three profound lessons:

Technology is a lifeline. Our pre-war investment in digital infrastructure was what allowed us to survive.

Flexibility and compassion must replace rigid bureaucracy. We focused on the goal – education – not on the old rules.

Crisis can fuel innovation. Many students gained deeper, more relevant experience training in real hospitals and factories than they ever would in a simulated campus lab.

The most powerful moments have been the messages from graduates. They write to thank us, often noting that their peers at other universities are still waiting, their education frozen. One message captures it all:

You gave me my future back.

This reminds us that education is not a luxury; in times of war, it is a testament to normalcy, hope, and the future.

What comes next?

We have already begun refurbishing our main campus in Khartoum North, hoping to return soon. But the old model is gone for good.

Current efforts to refurbish and rebuild Mashreq University’s main campus in Khartoum, aiming for a return to in-person education. Abubakr Khalid/Mashreq University, Author provided (no reuse)

This experience has taught us that education has no borders. It can reach anyone, anywhere, if guided by compassion and strategic purpose.

For universities everywhere, our story is a stark lesson: investing in resilient, flexible systems is not just about innovation; in today’s world, it is fundamentally about survival.

– How a Sudanese university kept learning alive during war
– https://theconversation.com/how-a-sudanese-university-kept-learning-alive-during-war-269325

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S&P Global Ratings’ Samira Mensah Joins African Energy Chamber (AEC) G20 Forum as Africa Seeks to Close Investment Gap

Source: APO


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With an energy finance gap estimated between $30 billion and $50 billion per year, Africa is pursuing diversified sources of financing to address this shortfall and advance strategic projects. Aligned with goals by the continent to make energy poverty history, the African Energy Chamber’s (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org/) upcoming G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum seeks to close this gap by connecting global capital to African projects. Samira Mensah, Managing Director, Regional Head Africa & Country Head South Africa, S&P Global Ratings, is speaking at the forum, where she is expected to share insight into investment trends, credit ratings and strategies for securing capital in an ever-changing global context.  

While Africa’s energy potential is well-known – with over 125 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, 620 trillion cubic feet of proven gas and abundant renewable energy potential – high borrowing costs, perceived credit risks and limited access to long-term financing remain an impediment to project development. In tandem, global pressures to advance the energy transition has seen funding for oil and gas projects significantly fall, delaying African projects and impacting efforts to enhance energy security across the continent. Within this scenario, organizations such as S&P Global Ratings plays a crucial role, shaping market confidence and supporting capital access through transparent risk evaluation. The organization’s research has consistently highlighted the importance of developing robust domestic capital markets, enhancing sovereign creditworthiness and leveraging blended finance and guarantees to reduce the cost of borrowing for African issuers.  

While perceived credit risk continues to impact projects in Africa, recent trends have seen a continental push toward closing Africa’s energy financing gap. The $5 billion Africa Energy Bank – spearheaded by the African Petroleum Producers Organization and Afreximbank – is making rapid gains in raising funds, offering an alternative, home-grown solution to raising capital. Development finance is gaining traction, evidenced by the U.S.-Export-Import Bank re-approving a loan of up to $4.7 billion to support the development of the TotalEnergies-led Mozambique LNG project. The African Development Bank also reached a record of $11 billion in new investments approved in Africa between 2024 and 2025. International energy companies are ramping-up their spending. Eni is investing $8 billion in Algeria, backed by a deal signed with Sonatrach, while ExxonMobil could invest as much as $15 billion in Angola’s Namibe basin following successful drilling. African M&A transactions also saw a significant increase, totaling $2.7 billion in H1, 2025 alone.  

The upcoming G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum builds on this momentum by offering insight into Africa’s energy opportunities. The forum follows the African Energy Week 2025 conference, where a Premier Invest-led Deal Room identified up to $13.4 billion project opportunities across the upstream, midstream, downstream and renewable energy segments. By connecting global financiers with African stakeholders, the G20 Forum aims to drive projects forward while addressing challenges such as perceived risk and market uncertainty. Mensah’s participation will bring technical depth to discussions on how sovereign and corporate ratings can catalyze investment in Africa’s oil, gas and power sectors, particularly as countries pursue both expansion and transition agendas.  

“Closing Africa’s energy investment gap is not only about mobilizing capital, it is about changing perceptions, improving credit risk assessments and creating confidence in African markets. Institutions like S&P Global Ratings play a vital role in helping investors see the full picture: that Africa is not a risk to be avoided, but an opportunity to be embraced,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.  

 To register for the Forum click here (https://apo-opa.co/443y98Q). 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Eskom’s Alfred Seema Joins African Energy Chamber (AEC) G20 Forum Amid Focus on Improved Generation, Strategic Partnerships

Source: APO


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Alfred Seema, Group Executive: Strategic Delivery Unit of South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom, has been confirmed as a speaker at the African Energy Chamber’s G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum (https://EnergyChamber.org/) – taking place November 21 in Johannesburg. Seema’s participation comes as the company accelerates a General Recovery Plan, striving to enhance energy security and generation capacity across the country. His participation is expected to unlock new pathways for global partnerships as the country pursues a just energy transition.  

Eskom has been at the forefront of addressing South Africa’s loadshedding crisis through targeted policies. The company launched a Load Reduction Elimination Strategy in September 2025, offering a clear roadmap to strengthen the country’s distribution network and address high-risk isolated areas. The program takes a three-phased approach, including expanding free basic electricity access from the current 485,000 households to 2.1 million households; accelerating the rollout of smart meters, with 6.2 million planned over the next three years; and deploying distributed energy resources, with 250 set to be installed over the next five years. Eskom is also rolling out a Generation Recovery Plan, aimed at strengthening energy supply. Since August 2025, generation performance has improved significantly under the plan, with the Energy Availability Factor reaching 70%. Between October 1 and 23 alone, the Unplanned Capability Loss Factor reduced to 22.8%, reflecting a marginal improvement compared to the same period in 2024.  

Looking ahead, Eskom’s generation strategy focuses on a dual approach of improving the existing fleet and transitioning to cleaner sources of fuel. Aligned with South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), the company aims to develop a balanced energy mix that incorporates all sources of energy. The IRP 2025 offers a clear investment roadmap for the power sector, targeting 105 GW of new generation capacity by 2039. This includes 5.3 GW of new nuclear capacity – expandable to 10 GW – as well as 34 GW of onshore wind, 25 GW of utility-scale solar, 8.2 GW of storage and 16 GW of gas-to-power. The plan also envisages the development of a Clean-Coal Technologies Demonstration Plan by 2030. Eskom is currently reviewing the IRP 2025 and will publish its own updated strategic plan.  

The generation strategy has already begun to yield positive results. In November 2025, Eskom announced that its Koeberg Nuclear Power Station has secured a 20-year license extension, with both of its units expected to deliver 1,860 MW of baseload power until 2045. This follows the announcement of simplified compliance and registration processes for customers who generate their own electricity through Small-Scale Embedded Generation, enabling private players to invest in generation infrastructure. In September 2025, Eskom achieved commercial operations at Unit 6 at the Kusile Power Station, marking the end of construction of the Medupi and Kusile coal plants. Together, the two facilities deliver up to 9,600 MW of power. These projects form a cornerstone of Eskom’s generation strategy, signaling the company’s commitment to diversified energy development in South Africa.  

Meanwhile, as part of a strategic restructuring, the South African government has begun the process of unbundling Eskom by separating the company into three entities: generation, transmission and distribution. While operating under Eskom, the companies will function as separate entities under efforts to strengthen efficiency, attract private investment and enhance competition across the sector. To date, the transmission entity – the National Transmission Company of South Africa – has been established and began operations in July 2024. However, to successfully complete the unbundling process, challenges associated with financial viability need to be addressed. The G20 Forum supports these goals be connecting global capital to South African power projects and partners.  

“South Africa’s path to energy security depends on embracing a truly diversified mix. Eskom generation plan marks a decisive shift toward balanced growth. Through platforms like the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum, we can attract the right partners and capital to strengthen South Africa’s generation base and ensure every household and industry benefits from affordable, dependable power,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. 

To register for the Forum click here (https://apo-opa.co/47TjSwG).  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Cassava Technologies & Google partner to bring Gemini to millions across Africa

Source: APO

Cassava Technologies (www.CassavaTechnologies.com), a global technology leader of African heritage, has announced a strategic partnership to expand access to Google’s advanced AI, Gemini, across the continent.  

The collaboration is built on two key offers designed to remove the primary barriers of cost and data consumption for consumers and businesses in Africa: 

  • A six-month extended trial of the Google AI Plus plan, provided by Google. This plan includes more access to Google’s most capable Gemini models, 200 GB of storage, video generation, Gemini in Gmail and Docs and higher limit for image generation. 
  • Data-free access to the Gemini app. Cassava will work with its extensive network of technology service providers to ensure that eligible users can use the Gemini app without consuming any of their mobile data. 

By leveraging the extensive reach of Cassava’s partner network and the advanced capabilities of Google’s AI solutions, this initiative will help more Africans access, experience, and benefit from advanced AI technologies.   

“We’re proud to partner with Google to democratise access to digital solutions that empower people and businesses. This partnership underscores a shared vision to make AI more inclusive, accessible, and impactful across Africa’s rapidly digitising economies. It’s about shaping a smarter, more connected, and more competitive Africa,” said Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO of Cassava Technologies.  

“Our goal is to make Gemini helpful for everyone. By partnering with Cassava, we’re removing significant barriers to AI adoption across Africa—specifically cost and connectivity. This collaboration should help bring the full potential of Gemini to millions of people, empowering them to learn, build, and create without worrying about data consumption,” said Josh Woodward, VP, Google Labs, Gemini, & AI Studio 

By removing the cost barrier to adoption, the initiative will enable individuals, businesses, and institutions to benefit from the following Google AI Plus features for the duration of the trial period.  

  • More access to our most capable model -Gemini 2.5 Pro 
  • 200GB of cloud storage 
  • Deep Research on 2.5 Pro 
  • Higher limits of image generation with Nano Banana 
  • Video generation with access to Veo 3.1 Fast 
  • Access to Flow, our generative video tool for filmmaking 
  • Expanded access to NotebookLM for advanced note-taking and insights 
  • Gemini integration in Gmail and Docs for smarter writing and productivity 

Visit the Google AI Plus (https://apo-opa.co/4oDlJNr) page for a full list of features.   

The partnership builds on Cassava’s long-standing commitment to driving digital inclusion and innovation through collaborations that bring advanced solutions to African markets. With AI rapidly emerging as a key driver of socio-economic growth, it also aligns with the company’s mission of providing digital solutions that enable enterprises to transform their customers’ lives.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Cassava Technologies.

About Cassava Technologies:
Cassava Technologies is a global technology leader of African heritage providing a vertically integrated ecosystem of digital services and infrastructure enabling digital transformation. Headquartered in the UK, Cassava has a presence across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the United States of America. Through its business units, namely, Cassava AI, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Liquid C2, Africa Data Centres, and Sasai Fintech, the company provides its customers’ products and services in 94 countries. These solutions drive the company’s ambition of establishing itself as a leading global technology company of African heritage. https://www.CassavaTechnologies.com/  

About Google:
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Google Cloud, Chrome and YouTube, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. 

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30th United Nations Climate Conference (COP 30): Multilateral development banks reaffirm their commitment to climate finance, pledge innovative funding for adaptation

Source: APO

Multilateral development banks on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to climate finance, pledging to scale up innovative funding to boost climate adaptation and resilience.

“Financing climate resilience is not a cost, but an investment.” This was the key message from senior MDB officials at the end of a side event organised by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) on the opening day of the 30th United Nations Climate Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. The conference runs from 10 to 21 November.

During a panel discussion titled “Accelerating large-scale climate change adaptation,” MDB representatives, including the African Development Bank Group, outlined how their institutions are fulfilling Paris Agreement commitments by mobilising substantial and innovative resources for climate adaptation and mitigation.

Climate resilience: an investment opportunity

Ilan Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, emphasised that “resilience is more than a concern for the future: it is also essential for development today.” He announced that MDBs are tripling their financing for resilience over the next decade, targeting $42 billion by 2030.

“At the Inter-American Development Bank, we are turning preparedness into protection and resilience into opportunity,” Goldfajn added.

Tanja Faller, Director of Technical Evaluation and Monitoring at the Council of Europe Development Bank, stressed that climate change “not only creates new threats, but also amplifies existing inequalities. The most socially vulnerable people are the hardest hit and the last to recover. This is how a climate crisis also becomes a social crisis.”

Representatives from the Islamic Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank Group, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,  the European Investment Bank, the New Development Bank and IDB Invest (the private sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group) also shared concrete examples of successful adaptation investments and strategies for mobilising new resources.

The African Development Bank leads by example

Kevin Kariuki, Vice President of the African Development Bank Group in charge of Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, presented the Bank’s leadership in advancing climate adaptation and mitigation. “At the African Development Bank, we understand the priorities of our countries: adaptation and mitigation are at the heart of our climate interventions.”

He highlighted the creation of the Climate Action Window, a new financing mechanism under the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional window for low-income countries.

“The African Development Bank is the only multilateral development bank with a portfolio of adaptation projects ready for investment through the Climate Action Window,” Kariuki noted, adding that Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland are among key co-financing partners.

Kariuki also showcased the Bank’s YouthADAPT programme, which has invested $5.4 million in 41 youth-led enterprises across 20 African countries, generating more than 10,000 jobs — 61 percent of which are led by women, and mobilising an additional $7 million in private and donor funding.

Representatives from Zambia, Mozambique and Jamaica also shared local perspectives on the financing needs of communities most exposed to climate risk.

Lula launches his COP in the Amazon

The panel followed the official opening of COP30, marked by a passionate appeal from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for greater climate investment to prevent a “tragedy for humanity.”

“Without the Paris Agreement, we would see a 4–5°C increase in global temperatures,” Lula warned. “Our call to action is based on three pillars: honouring commitments; accelerating public action with a roadmap enabling humanity to move away from fossil fuels and deforestation; and placing humanity at the heart of the climate action programme: thousands of people are living in poverty and deprivation as a result of climate change.”

“The climate emergency is a crisis of inequality,” he continued. “We must build a future that is not doomed to tragedy. We must ensure that we live in a world where we can still dream.”

Outgoing COP President Mukhtar Babayevn, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology, urged developed nations to fulfil their promises made at the Baku Conference, including commitments to mobilise $300 billion in climate finance. He called for stronger political will and multilateral cooperation, before handing over the COP presidency to Brazilian diplomat André Corrêa do Lago, who now leads the negotiations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
Romaric Ollo Hien,
Department of Communication and External Relations,
media@afdb.org

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