(Posted 08th August 2024)
CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Flutterwave Expands Digital Payment Services in Ghana with New License
Tech In Africa
Flutterwave, a prominent payments technology company, has received an Enhanced Category Payment Service Provider license from the Bank of Ghana. This development marks a significant expansion of the company’s operations in Africa and enables it to offer a wide array of payment services in the country….Read More>>
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
The United States Announces $424 Million in Additional Assistance for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
USAID
Today, the United States, through USAID, announced nearly $424 million in humanitarian and health assistance to address the ongoing catastrophe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This includes $414 million in humanitarian assistance to support people experiencing persistent humanitarian needs resulting from conflict and displacement. This announcement, made in Kinshasa by the U.S. Ambassador to the DRC Lucy Tamlyn and U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture Jeffrey Prescott, also includes an additional $10 million in health assistance to respond to the current mpox outbreak in the DRC and in other affected countries in the region. USAID is also donating 50,000 mpox vaccines to the DRC, which is the country most impacted by this outbreak…Read More>>
ENERGY
NNPC launches new crude oil grade
Premium Times
On Monday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) announced the introduction of a Utapate crude oil blend, a new crude oil grade, into the international market.Olufemi Soneye, the chief corporate communications officer of NNPC Ltd, in a statement, said from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, entirely operated by NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), the Utapate crude oil blend commenced operations in July as its first cargo headed for Spain…Read More>>
Madi-Okollo District gets first 24MW solar project
Nile Post
Madi-Okollo District is set to transform its energy landscape with the commissioning of the first and largest utility-scale grid-connected solar PV project.This landmark project, once operational, promises to be a game-changer for the local economy and energy sector.The $19 million approximately she71.25 billion investment for the 24 MWp Solar PV project was secured during COP28 from the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF)…Read More>>
Off-Grid Energy Solutions Benefit Over 580,000 Ethiopians
All Africa
The implementation of off-grid energy solutions has benefited over 580, 000 citizens across the country, said the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE).MoWE Minister Eng. Habtamu Itefa told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the country has been working to increase energy supply by integrating renewable sources to meet the growing power demand.Accordingly, Habtamu’s ministry has been expanding off-grid energy technologies especially solar energy, which is proposed to reach remote and rural areas…Read More>>
HEALTH
Tamale Teaching Hospital opens new accident and emergency theatre
Ghana Web
The governing board of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) has commissioned a new theatre dedicated to handling emergency cases. The new theatre facility, located in the Accident and Emergency Department, is expected to offer services to patients requiring emergency operations and surgeries..Read More>>
Rwanda to export plasma in strategic medical move
New Times
Rwanda is set to export plasma as the country seeks to address the cost it incurs on the production and disposal of excess amounts of this blood component, as well as get derived medicinal products for the patients in need of them at a relatively lower price, it has emerged.The sale of plasma is provided for in a Ministerial Order of July 11, 2024, on modalities for the use of the human body, organs, tissues, cells and products of the human body, which was published in the Official Gazette, on July 12…Read More>>
INFRASTRUCTURE
Nigeria: Enugu Approves N183bn for 141 Urban Roads, 20 Rural Roads
Vanguard
The Enugu State Government has approved the sum of N183bn for the construction of 141 roads across Enugu metropolis and 20 rural roads across the three senatorial zones of the state.The government has also approved the award of 133 more smart schools in addition to the ongoing 127 smart schools to bring them to 260 or one smart school per political ward.The approvals were disclosed at the end of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Peter Mbah at the Government House, Enugu, at the weekend…Read More>>
AGRIBUSINESS
Presidential Solar Scheme boon for agriculture
The Herald
President Mnangagwa recently launched the Presidential solar energy project in a bid to combat the effects of climate change and align with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocols on climate change and sustainable agriculture…Read More>>
NDB, BIC extend financial safety net to farmers with new insurance coverage
The Business Weekly
In a major development for Botswana’s agricultural sector, the National Development Bank (NDB) has unveiled a new suite of bancassurance products. Underwritten by Botswana Insurance Company (BIC) and Botswana Life Insurance Company, these products are designed to improve the financial well-being and security of local farmers…Read More>>
ICT
Meta Rolls Out In-Stream Ads and Ads on Facebook Reels in Kenya
Chimp Reports
Meta has announced the launch of two new monetization features for eligible content creators in Kenya. The features, In-Stream Ads on Facebook and Ads on Facebook Reels, will allow creators to earn money from their original videos while engaging with their community…Read More>>
Gambia Explores Possible Launch of Starlink Services
All Africa
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, held a virtual meeting with American businessman Elon Musk, and the owner of the international company, Starlink Services. The two parties discussed ideas surrounding the bridging of the digital divide, harmonization of transformative opportunities of technologies as well as the provision of easy access to technologies for Schools to deliver quality education in STEM…Read More>>
FINANCE
Ethiopia liberalises foreign exchange regime in bid to gain IMF funding
African Business
Ethiopia has liberalised its foreign exchange regime, in a move that will unlock over $10bn worth of external financing, but which analysts fear could stoke higher inflation in the East African country.In a statement earlier this week, the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), the central bank, said that it was “announcing a major revision of the country’s foreign exchange regime effective immediately” and introducing “a competitive, market-based determination of the exchange rate [to] address a long-standing distortion within the Ethiopian economy.”…Read More>>
Kenya’s inflation drops in July as price of key food items and fuel ease
African News
The four-year low was helped by a strong shilling and marginal price reductions in key household costs such as electricity and fuel.This has led to a reduction in transport costs which saw a rise of just 4 per cent in July compared to 7.7 per cent the previous month….Read More>>
