First Independent Mena Newspaper
As the global economy sinks into another period of crisis, African currencies are depreciating against the US dollar and rising import costs are adding to inflationary pressures. With around half of all international trade invoiced in dollars, a stronger greenback hurts consumers across the world — including in Africa — that use dollars to pay […]
Namibia’s first ‘green hydrogen’ power plant — and also first one being built in Africa — which is expected to begin producing electricity in 2024, presents the southern African country with a dilemma: while Namibia is championing the clean energy, it also announced earlier this month that huge oil deposits had been discovered off its […]
Fuel prices soar to record levels as subsidies were removed in Kenya, while inflation in Ethiopia and Ghana hit record high — in both countries about 44%. In Kenya, fuel prices have risen once again after the government partially removed subsidies that cushioned consumers from the global hike in oil prices. The energy regulator said […]
As Africa reflects on the legacy of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, from Kenya to Nigeria to South Africa, the monarch’s passing has reignited a sensitive debate about Britain’s colonial past in parts of the continent, particularly the queen’s role as head of state during British rule. The death of the British monarch has prompted an […]
Central African countries have signed an agreement to create a regional oil and gas pipeline network and hub infrastructures which proponents say will strengthen energy supply and reduce dependence on imports of refined products. The deal, inked on Thursday (8 September), aims to construct three multinational oil and gas pipeline systems of around 6,500 km, […]
Unlike in 2021, this year, Google is funding an equal number of men and women-founded startups through its Black Founders Fund, which embodies the tech giant’s commitment to invest in Black entrepreneurs in Africa. Google started its Black Founders Fund following the wave of concern in 2020 after the George Floyd protests in the US […]
The ozone gas can cause substantial losses by quickly aging crops before they reach full production potential and scientists are particularly worried about Africa, which will see more vehicle traffic and waste burning as the population is set to double by mid-century. More vehicle traffic and waste burning means more ozone pollution, a major challenge […]
Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia — the second largest international exporter after China — the prices of fertilizers in West Africa have skyrocketed, severely aggravating the ongoing food crisis in countries such as Burkina Faso. In the last few months, the Sahel region has been hit by the worst drought in over a […]
The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine have been pushing many electric grid utilities in Africa — which have long been strapped for cash — close to financial collapse, whereby this situation is in turn also slowing down the continent’s clean energy transition. Ghana’s electric grid is in dire straits. In the mid-2010s, […]
Many, if not most, African economies have endured a torrid time over recent years, as their finances have been hard hit by two global crises – Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. As a result, numerous states across Africa have turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance. Ghana is expecting to receive $3 billion […]