African markets and business updates

Ghana is taking steps to strengthen its capacity to conduct and oversee high-quality clinical trials, following an assessment of 15 public and private research and health institutions supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), with funding support from the European Union-funded Vax & Pharm Initiative. Clinical trials generate the evidence needed to develop and evaluate vaccines, medicines and other health technologies. Strengthening the institutions that conduct and oversee these studies can help Ghana accelerate health innovation, improve preparedness for health emergencies and expand access to safe and effective health technologies.…

Navachab Gold Mine has delivered over 300 kilograms of gold to the Bank of Namibia (BoN) since signing a gold purchase agreement in March 2024, with expectations to reach about 600 kilograms by year-end. George Botshiwe, Managing Director of Navachab, confirmed the mine’s ongoing commitment to supply gold as the central bank builds its domestic …

Oil prices fell to a two-week low on Tuesday after Iran said it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports.

“It emphasised that the recalibration of the corridor does not constitute a change in the current monetary policy stance, but rather an operational reset to enhance the effectiveness of monetary policy and support the transition to an inflation targeting framework," CBN said.

The United States has agreed to return 2.5 million dollars to The Gambia - the proceeds of the sale of a property belonging to the country’s former president Yahya Jammeh.

Lesotho’s Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, attended the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa and Global Cooperation, held on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The panel was chaired by Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, and brought together senior African leaders and international partners, including H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; H.E. Cheikh Niang, Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs of Senegal, representing President Bassirou Diomaye Faye; and H.E.…

An unnamed armed group shut a valve on a pipeline from a major Libyan oil field, causing a drop in production, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said late Monday.

Access Bank Cameroon’s total assets surpassed CFA500 billion at the end of August 2026 after rising 16.9% in three months, but its balance sheet remains heavily concentrated in securities and interbank assets rather than direct customer lending. The bank reported CFA501.418 billion in total assets as of August 31, according to its published monthly statement. That compares with CFA428.949 billion at the end of May, an increase of CFA72.469 billion in three months. Direct customer loans stood at CFA64.372 billion, while securities alone reached CFA199.150 billion, more than three times the amount of direct lending.…

Beyond safeguarding the nation and protecting its people, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) continues to contribute to building peaceful, resilient and cohesive communities. Through sustained engagement with young people and local communities, KDF supports initiatives that nurture responsible citizenship, mutual respect and a culture of peaceful coexistence. On Monday, 21 September 2026, KDF, in partnership with the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Secretariat Peace Operations Department, joined students from Lang’ata Barracks Primary and Secondary Schools to commemorate the International Day of Peace.…

Strong communities thrive when education, health, welfare and security reinforce one another, creating an environment in which people can pursue opportunity and build a more resilient future. Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) conducted a Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activity and Key Leadership Engagement at Hoosingo Junior School, bringing together community leaders, educators, pupils and residents. The engagement was attended by local leaders, including the District Officer and village elders, alongside the school administration and teachers.…