The Africa Islamic Finance Forum 2015 recently wrapped up its inaugural two-day event in the Ivory Coast. The two-day forum aimed to stimulate national and international market players to explore development opportunities in Islamic finance in African markets. Participants engaged on discussions on how to capitalize investment opportunities in strategic African markets. Read More »

Randgold Resources and AngloGold Ashanti made an investment agreement to reform and redevelop AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi gold mine in Ghana. The high-grade gold deposit at Obuasi has proven ore reserves. As part of the deal, Randgold will lead and fund a development plan to rebuild Obuasi as a viable long-life mining business with an attractive cost-structure and returns. Read More »

Mauritania and China recently agreed to enhance their fishery activities, while also combating illegal, unreported and uncontrolled fishing activities, and upgrading outdated fishing vessels off the coast of western North Africa. Of all African nations, Mauritania has been the longest to conduct fisheries cooperation with China and hosts the most Chinese fishing boats. Read More »

U.S. Ambassador Robert Whitehead and Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Robert Dussey last week signed a bilateral Open Skies agreement, allowing any Togolese airline and any U.S. airline to fly to and from any points in Togo and the United States. The negotiations between the United States and Togo for the air transport agreement started in 2012. Read More »

AGC Nigeria, a health care innovation startup, on Monday was named Startup of the Year at the Nigeriacom Entrepreneurs Hug held in Lagos, Nigeria. AGC Nigeria, a startup from Obafemi Awolowo University, was one of the scores of startups that vied for the critically acclaimed Pitch & Win event organized by Informa UK in collaboration with Wennovation Hub and Disrupt Africa. Read More »

Elenilto was chosen by the Togolese government to develop a $1.4 billion phosphate mining and fertilizer plant project in West Africa. Controlled by Isreali billionaire Jacob Engel, Elenilto is cooperating with Wengfu as its strategic partner. Wengfu is one of the leading international phosphate and fertilizer groups with vast experience in the industry in China and globally. Read More »

Ghana recently was elected to serve on the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) during the 21st session of its General Assembly, which met in Medellin, Colombia this month. The General Assembly is considered the most important global meeting of tourism ministers, senior tourism officials and high-level private sector representatives. Read More »

The first edition of the new vegetarian magazine, Health Africa, was released this month in the Ghana market to spread information and positive feelings about vegetarianism. The magazine, which is written in both English and French, seeks to demystify individual perception and misconception about vegetarianism using a plant-based diet. The magazine is an 80-page publication. Read More »

While hydropower has been the main source of electricity for Ghana, the urbanization of the country has led to the demand for better power options. New thermal and solar power plants are coming to Ghana after the demand finally gained massive investments in other sources of power from the country’s government. More than 1,800 megwatts from five emergent barges are expected soon. Read More »

Independent gas and oil explorer FAR, Ltd. announced Sept. 24 it has entered into a farm in option agreement with a subsidiary of Trace Atlantic Oil, Ltd. for the Djiffere block offshore Senegal. The Djiffere block is adjacent to FAR’s prospective Rufisque, Sangomar and Sangomar Deep (RSSD) blocks that contain significant SNE-1 and FAN-1 oil discoveries. Read More »