AGP Executive Report

Energy & Industry Policy: South Africa’s SANEA rebrands with a new logo and “Guiding inclusive energy progress” slogan, aiming for stability as it updates board rotation rules. Insurance & Household Risk: Liberty says it paid R12.63bn in claims in 2025, while Momentum highlights a rising protection gap as critical illness claims climb and many cancer/cardiovascular deaths lacked cover. Consumer Finance: Old Mutual warns South Africans about “silent spending habits” that quietly drain savings. Ghana Investment Push: Ghana’s trade minister renews calls for foreign investment at the Ghana-UK Investment Summit, pitching the country as a gateway into Africa. Ghana Food Security: The agriculture minister outlines a 10-year plan to close Ghana’s rice deficit, including an import quota tied to local producer partnerships. Africa–Global Deals: Ethiopia and Finland resume formal economic consultations after a 16-year gap; Angola launches a new route to Guangzhou to deepen Africa–Asia connectivity. EV & Infrastructure: Spiro raises $215m equity to expand battery-swapping across seven African markets. Tech & AI Costs: A UN report warns AI data centres could consume water equivalent to 1.3bn people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Regional Growth Signal: Nigeria’s private sector PMI hits a nine-month high as demand and output improve despite inflation and fuel costs.

Kenya Politics & Economy: President William Ruto tells the opposition it lacks a development agenda, arguing critics focus on nicknames instead of solutions. South Africa Cost of Living: President Cyril Ramaphosa urges South Africans to “tighten the belt” as Middle East conflict pushes up oil and fertiliser costs, threatening jobs and growth. Trade & Supply Chains: China’s zero-tariff policy for African countries is set to boost export competitiveness and deepen value-chain integration. Maritime Security: Nigeria calls for stronger partnerships among African navies to protect sea lines of communication and keep trade moving. Food Security Risk: A focus on the Gulf crisis highlights how fuel and fertiliser disruptions can hit African harvests and food inflation. AI & Investment: Naspers jumps after Tencent signals more AI agent activity, reinforcing investor appetite for African-linked tech exposure. Finance & Inclusion: Nigeria makes history with WIPO’s first Sub-Saharan Africa office in Abuja, aiming to accelerate innovation and intellectual property commercialization. SME Payments: Yoco and stub integrate payments with accounting to automate reconciliations for South African independent businesses. Clean Mobility: Spiro secures $215m to expand electric mobility and battery-swapping infrastructure across Africa. Health Policy: WHO warns nicotine and tobacco firms are targeting young Africans with new products and marketing tactics. Agribusiness: Kenya flower growers push buyers for fairer pricing as costs rise. Regional Governance: SADC reappoints Stanley Ndara to lead the fisheries surveillance board to curb illegal fishing.

Trade & Industry: China says its zero-tariff policy (effective May 1, 2026) gives all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties duty-free access to its market, spotlighting Zimbabwe’s new women-led manufacturing push through the Zimbabwe Women in Manufacturing (ZWIM) association. Development Finance: AfDB chief economist Kevin Urama argues Nigeria can mobilise long-term capital by scaling investment from pension funds and sovereign wealth assets into productive sectors. Food Security: The Middle East war is disrupting fertilizer and energy supplies, pushing up input costs and raising the risk of higher food prices and hunger. East Africa Business Growth: ITC and Equity Group signed an MoU to expand finance, trade expertise and market access for coffee, leather and creative firms in Kenya from a pilot through Dec 2026, then across East Africa. Social Protection & Accountability: South Africa’s Parliament marks National Child Protection Week, citing low reporting and conviction rates for child rape and urging adults to report abuse. Climate & Risk: Western Cape disaster management is on high alert as an intense weather system threatens heavy rain, flooding and strong winds.

Wild Meat & Food Security: A new study on central Africa finds wild meat still supplies about 20% of rural daily protein, with urban shares lower but rising as transport and livestock constraints persist. Justice Reform Delivery: Southern Africa’s justice officials are urged to turn regional legal reforms into real benefits for 400+ million people, linking rule-of-law outcomes to economic integration. Zimbabwe Power Push: Zimbabwe says electricity imports fell 44% in 2025 after Hwange Thermal units 7 and 8 boosted generation, while new solar and IPP projects add capacity. UNSC Bid Diplomacy: Zimbabwe steps up outreach for a non-permanent UNSC seat, framing its “friend to all, enemy to none” bridge-building doctrine. Fertiliser Shock in West Africa: Iran-linked supply pressures are driving fertiliser prices up sharply, pushing Senegalese farmers toward compost and manure alternatives. Ebola Travel Ban Backlash: Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya warns that blanket travel restrictions undermine transparency, disrupt health operations, and add unnecessary economic costs. Nigeria Capital Markets: Nigeria’s NGX becomes Africa’s first to move to a T+1 settlement cycle, aiming to cut risk and boost global competitiveness. Ghana Anti-LGBTQ Bill: Ghana’s parliament passed a sweeping anti-LGBTQ law amid claims of no quorum, drawing strong criticism from rights groups. Tanzania Graphite Stake: Tanzania formalised a 16% state stake in the Lindi Jumbo graphite mine via a joint venture, securing long-term local participation in a producing asset. Korea-Africa Cooperation: South Korea and 50 African countries agreed to deepen maritime transit and critical minerals cooperation after the Seoul foreign ministers’ meeting. Ghana–UK Investment Drive: Mahama continues wooing investors at the Ghana–UK summit, pitching export-led growth and recovery themes. Nigeria Power Funding Gap: Despite $3.65bn in World Bank-backed power support since 2001, Nigeria still faces grid instability and heavy generator reliance.

Political Sentiment Shift (Ghana): IMANI’s PULSE analysis of 10,000 online mentions says Ghanaians are increasingly debating governance and performance—policy delivery, accountability, economic credibility—rather than backing personalities. Diplomacy & Trade (Egypt–Cameroon/Angola): Egypt’s foreign minister met counterparts in Seoul, stressing deeper economic, trade, investment and capacity-building ties and regional stability. Banking & Pan-African Integration (UBA): UBA marked Africa Day with group-wide events across 20 countries, framing itself as a “bridge” for cross-border opportunities as digital finance expands. Trade & Industry (Kenya): Nairobi will host AUTOEXPO Kenya (June 3–5), pitching the country as East Africa’s automotive and industrial logistics hub. Elections & Governance (Ethiopia): Ethiopia goes to the polls with a widely expected win for PM Abiy Ahmed, amid war-linked instability and limited opposition participation. Party Politics (Nigeria): Babachir Lawal quit the ADC, alleging primaries were rigged in favour of Atiku. Financing Trend (Africa): A new report says private credit is overtaking equity as the dominant funding model, with investors prioritising cash-flow stability as venture funding contracts. Consumer Pressure (South Africa): June fuel levy relief ends; petrol rises while diesel and paraffin fall, adding pressure to already strained households. Regional Security & Integration (ECOWAS): ECOWAS faces a leadership transition amid fragmentation after members’ departures, raising questions about legitimacy and cohesion. Ebola Watch (EAC): EAC ministers met over rising regional Ebola concerns as cases increase.

Ebola Response: Africa has secured $498.8m in pledges for the Central Africa outbreak, but the gap to the $519m target underlines how underfunded containment still is as cases rise in DR Congo and Uganda. Ethiopia Vote: Ethiopia holds parliamentary and regional elections with analysts expecting Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party to win big, though voting won’t happen in Tigray amid unrest. Healthcare & Emergency Care (Nigeria): Tinubu commissions health infrastructure and launches ambulances and emergency communications under NEMSAS to tackle long-standing access gaps. Credit Squeeze (Nigeria): AERE warns Nigeria’s private sector is facing a major lending contraction, calling it an economic emergency as SMEs struggle to get funding. Trade & Inclusion (AfCFTA): Women are urged to lead AfCFTA trade to unlock growth, innovation and wider participation in intra-African commerce. Regional Security (ECOWAS): Senegal proposes an armed forces minister for ECOWAS Commission president, as the bloc tackles security and institutional challenges. Digital Sovereignty: Coverage highlights how cloud and digital infrastructure dependence can become a geopolitical risk, pushing Africa to strengthen control. Energy & Industry Links: South Korea and Africa move to deepen cooperation, including a Ghana smart industrial park plan connecting tech, AI and manufacturing. Urban Waste (Lagos): Lagos refuse collection problems are worsening, with growing dumpsites raising health concerns.

AfDB/WEF Frontier Markets: The AfDB and World Economic Forum argue Africa’s fragile frontier markets need a shift from aid to private investment, warning that humanitarian funding is too short-term and fragmented to build resilient economies. Nigeria Insecurity & Rights: SERAP urges the UN Security Council to act on Nigeria’s escalating insecurity, citing mass abductions, killings and displacement across multiple states. IMF Fuel Shock Advice: The IMF tells governments to let fuel prices track international costs while shielding households with targeted, temporary cash transfers—warning against broad subsidies and caps. Zambia Debt Relief Move: Zambia offers to buy back a $1.4bn bond using cheaper financing, aiming to avoid a costly interest-rate trigger and signal confidence in recovery. Ghana Logistics Push: Ghana plans to designate Takoradi Port as the Sahel cargo corridor, with a rail line to Hamile to ease road damage from heavy trucks. Zimbabwe Energy Deal: Zimbabwe signs a first-of-its-kind petroleum pact for the Cabora Bassa Basin, unlocking investment after drilling confirmed gas-condensate potential. South Africa Credit Slowdown: South African private sector credit growth cools to 9.2% y/y in April, down from 10.5% in February. Nigeria Creative Rights: Nollywood filmmakers say Afrobeats licensing is getting harder as foreign publishing deals raise costs, threatening creative collaboration. Zanzibar Investment Summit: Zanzibar’s VP says private sector partnership is key to development ahead of the June 3–5 investment summit. Public Services: Sassa rolls out June 2026 grants in South Africa this week with staggered payment dates.

Ghana Economic Push: Fidelity Bank founder Edward Effah proposes a National Economic Transformation Council, chaired by the President, plus a Transformation Delivery Unit to fast-track reforms and industrialisation. Central Africa Security: UN Central Africa talks in Burundi call for sustainable peace and resilient development amid terrorism, disinformation and election tensions. Cybercrime & Business Risks: Nigeria’s court remands a blogger over fake posts targeting UBA chair Tony Elumelu, highlighting reputational and legal risks in Africa’s digital economy. AI Infrastructure Investment: Asprofin Bank is evaluating a USD 5–12bn sovereign AI data centre programme across UAE sites, aiming for 750–1,280MW over 10–15 years. Agribusiness Trade Boost: China will open its market to coffee beans from all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties from July 20, using unified phytosanitary rules. Kenya Credit Bottleneck: FSD Kenya says prudential rules give smallholder loans a 100% risk weight, locking farmers out of formal credit despite low default rates. Ethiopia Food Supply Upgrade: Ethiopia inaugurates a US$30m cold storage facility in Addis Ababa to cut post-harvest losses and stabilise market supply. Regional Logistics: Nigeria extends its East/Southern Africa air cargo corridor with RwandAir, cutting rates to under US$2/kg for key destinations. Ghana Growth Outlook: AfDB forecasts Ghana growth at 5% in 2026 and 5.4% in 2027, with inflation easing and fiscal deficit narrowing. Africa Integration Agenda: AU leaders mark Africa Day with calls for unity, Agenda 2063 reform and stronger global governance.

Energy & Trade Disruption: Dangote Refinery says it became the world’s biggest jet fuel exporter in April and plans a $10bn expansion after hitting full capacity, aiming to deepen Nigeria’s role in global refined products. Regional Integration: ECOWAS is pushing to operationalise the ECOWAS Business Council, with Aliko Dangote meeting ECOWAS officials to boost private-sector-led trade and industrialisation. Mining Finance: FG Capital Advisors flags rising demand for structured mining finance advisory as battery metals activity accelerates, but says licences alone aren’t enough for investors. Agribusiness Investment: Nigeria’s Sunbeth Global Concepts is building a 70,000-tonne cocoa processing factory and an 80,000-tonne cashew plant, with farmer training and backward integration plans. Health Security: Africa CDC warns Ebola funding has dropped sharply and highlights the Bundibugyo strain spreading across Central and East Africa, raising fears of another crisis. Education & Jobs: Namibia’s UNAM summit warns of a growing mismatch between university degrees and labour market needs, urging more TVET uptake. Cross-Border Trade: Togo hosts an ECOWAS free-movement workshop focused on reducing border harassment and improving fair trade for women traders and transport operators. Macroeconomic Outlook: AfDB’s 2026 African Economic Outlook projects growth at 4.2%, stressing the need to mobilise development financing at scale.

Ebola Watch: A rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain is spreading across parts of the DRC and Uganda, prompting WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern as experts warn official numbers may be undercounted and cross-border risk is rising. Ghana–Russia Trade Push: Ghana’s President Mahama has confirmed he will attend the October 28–29 Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, with Accra eyeing deals in agribusiness, energy, pharmaceuticals and digital tech. AI for Growth: Ghana is preparing to host eLearning Africa 2026 and a Pan-African AI & Innovation Summit, with calls for urgent AI policy and investment in computing capacity to turn innovation into real productivity. Regional Integration & Trade: ECOWAS is moving to operationalise its Dangote-led Business Council to deepen private-sector participation and intra-West Africa trade. South Sudan Hunger Crisis: The UN warns more than 7 million people in conflict-hit South Sudan need urgent food aid as violence and displacement worsen. SME Support Bottleneck: South Africa’s Spaza Shop Support Fund has approved about R179.6m, but licensing delays and verification issues are still holding many owners back. Nigeria Pharma Independence: Nigeria’s pharma push for higher local production is framed as a national healthcare security priority amid import vulnerability. Global Economy Headwinds: The WEF says global growth is set to weaken further as Middle East conflict and shipping disruption risks feed inflation fears.

Trade & Industry: China’s zero-tariff push for exports from 53 African countries is already boosting Kenya’s avocado value chain, while Beijing also says it’s negotiating with Zimbabwe to tackle non-tariff barriers so the duty-free access sticks. Energy & Power: Ghana is moving toward a national net-metering framework to let rooftop solar owners sell excess power back to the grid, and the AfDB is using its Brazzaville meetings to mobilise Africa’s estimated $4tn savings to close a roughly $400bn annual financing gap. Digital Sovereignty: Ghana’s AI summit plans are putting “ethical AI” and data control front and centre, as finance leaders warn Africa risks repeating old extraction patterns in the digital age. Transport & Mobility: Nigeria’s car imports are falling as inflation and FX volatility bite, while Metro Africa Xpress (MAX) is ramping electric two- and three-wheeler innovation and charging plans. Aviation & Infrastructure: Nigeria’s FAAN says it will transform airports into “gateways of growth,” and Nigeria and the AfDB are backing a $7bn aviation programme. Politics & Business Climate: Nigeria’s ADC presidential primary has crowned Atiku Abubakar as the 2027 candidate, with internal disputes still simmering.

Monetary Policy: South Africa’s Reserve Bank approved a 25bps repo rate hike to 7% after April inflation jumped to 4%, warning of “second-round effects” from overlapping shocks and keeping the door open to further tightening. Energy & Industry: Ghana targets an extra 3,000MW of installed power by 2030 (30% renewables) to back industrialisation, noting Africa loses about $25bn yearly from power outages. Food Security: A SADC ministerial meeting in Victoria Falls will review progress on the 2025/26 season and push policy moves to cut food insecurity affecting about 58 million people. Ebola & Tourism: Uganda says national parks remain safe for visitors, citing strengthened Ebola prevention SOPs, screening and handwashing facilities. Business & Markets: Nigeria’s ADC presidential primary winner Atiku Abubakar met Rotimi Amaechi to mend ties after a disputed primary. Corporate Moves: BUA Foods was named among Africa’s fastest-growing companies by revenue CAGR (2021-2024), while Danone agreed to sell its Lifeway Foods stake after failed takeover attempts.

Energy Investment Gap: The IEA says Africa attracted just 3% of global energy investment in 2026 (about $110bn), even as the Strait of Hormuz shock reshapes capital flows—data centres alone globally outspent Africa’s whole energy sector. Electric Mobility & Resilience: With fuel import dependence leaving cities exposed to oil shocks, analysts argue electric buses can cut costs and strengthen economic security. AI Infrastructure Push: Nigeria’s Kasi Cloud launched hyperscale AI-ready data centres, aiming to keep more data processing inside the country and create digital jobs. Payments Upgrade: Paystack rebuilt its dashboard with an AI-native command centre to help merchants answer questions using their own transaction data. Digital Procurement: Lagos hosted Digital Procurement Africa, with stakeholders urging better data generation to scale e-procurement and reduce leakages. Trade & Agriculture: China will open coffee-bean market access to eligible beans from 53 African countries from July 20, using unified phytosanitary rules. Governance & Business Compliance: South Africa’s Nova trustee filed an auditor complaint over overdue audited accounts and possible tax and going-concern issues. Ebola Response: The US says it is setting up an Ebola care facility in Kenya for Americans exposed in DRC. Regional Growth Outlook: AfDB projects West Africa’s 2026 growth at 4.7%, supported by agriculture and infrastructure, despite inflation risks.

Green Hydrogen Rail Test: Namibia’s CMB.TECH consortium, with TransNamib and Africa Global Logistics, is preparing a green hydrogen-powered locomotive trial using a diesel-hydrogen engine for low-carbon freight on the Walvis Bay–Windhoek route. Growth Outlook: The AfDB forecasts Africa’s GDP growth at 4.2% in 2026 (down from 4.4% in 2025), with East Africa leading and southern Africa lagging amid higher energy and import costs. Renewables Push (Ghana): Ghana’s solar drive is accelerating, with floating and land-based projects expanding under the country’s renewable energy framework, while policymakers urge more local manufacturing and skills. Energy Finance & Climate Needs: UNCTAD says the renewable transition needs $1tn+ annually by 2030, with developing economies relying on FDI and clean-tech access. FDI Rebound (Ghana): Ghana attracted about $2.61bn FDI in 2025, up sharply from 2024, led by new projects and reinvested earnings. Aviation Leasing (Nigeria): AfDB is set to sign an MoU with Nigeria on an aircraft leasing initiative to ease fleet access for domestic airlines. Payments Infrastructure (Uganda/Nigeria): PayPal expands PYUSD access to 70 markets including Africa to speed cross-border payments; Nigeria’s Paga doubles down on payments infrastructure via Paga Engine. Jobs Fund: Africa Jobs Fund launches with a $100m target to back export manufacturing and labour mobility, aiming for large income gains. Food Security (SADC): SADC moves to stabilise fertiliser supply as global shocks raise input costs and threaten regional harvests. Ebola Watch: WHO-declared DR Congo Ebola emergency keeps attention on rapid countermeasures and decontamination readiness.

Ghana 24-Hour Push: Ghana is moving from a “half-day economy” to a legal blueprint for round-the-clock production and exports, targeting 1.7m jobs under its 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill and 24H+ plan. Food Security Rollout: In Volta, Ghana’s Feed Ghana programme is distributing poultry through the Nkoko Nkitinkiti project, aiming to cut import dependence after years of huge demand-supply gaps. Power Debt Fallout (Johannesburg): Eskom has been quietly switching off streetlights in parts of Joburg after City Power breached its electricity supply agreement, with disconnection notices tied to overdue accounts. Kenya Startup Exit Tax: Kenya’s Finance Bill 2026 proposes a 15% tax on foreign investors’ startup exits via offshore transfers, closing an “indirect transfer” loophole. AfCFTA Digital Rails: Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria are first to pilot ADAPT—shared digital identity, payments and trusted data exchange to make cross-border trade work. AfDB Financing Drive: The AfDB is urging urgent reforms to unlock Africa’s $4tn domestic savings by improving markets, coordination and risk-sharing. Libya & Agenda 2063: A Tripoli dialogue spotlighted Libya’s role in Africa and Agenda 2063, with calls for deeper engagement in AU institutions.

Aviation & Tourism: Saudia has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR (HZ-ASBA), making it the first Middle East-and-Africa operator of the extra-long-range narrowbody, with 15 aircraft on order through end-2027. Fuel & Trade: Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery is credited with ending much of the country’s fuel import dependence, with the EIU saying it now covers close to 80% of domestic petrol demand as ramp-up continues. Politics & Elections: In Nigeria’s 2027 race, Omoyele Sowore won the AAC presidential primary and was later confirmed as flag bearer, while the party also announced he has stepped down as national chairman, naming Samuel Ajeigbe as replacement. Finance for SMEs: The AfDB backed Zambian small businesses with a $20m trade finance guarantee for Access Bank Zambia, aiming to unlock up to $240m in trade volumes over five years. Macroeconomy: The AfDB expects Africa’s growth to slow to 4.2% this year as Middle East tensions lift fuel and food costs. Governance & Accountability: Ghana’s Auditor-General flagged inflated, poorly structured contracts around the 2023 African Games, recommending recovery of about GH¢579m.