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The report examines the conflict in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, highlighting that while often framed as a religious war, it is driven by resource exploitation, land grabs, and social injustice. It documents atrocities committed by both insurgents (ASWJ) and government forces (FDS), including the torture of civilians and sexual violence. The document criticises the 'Iraqization' of the region through the deployment of Rwandan and SADC troops to protect LNG infrastructure for companies like Total. It reveals how political elites have profited from mining concessions and oil and gas logistics during the conflict. The report concludes that a purely military approach is insufficient and recommends a political track, increased transparency in land concessions, and urgent humanitarian protections for internally displaced persons, particularly women and girls.

The report identifies a structural boom in copper prices driven by the global shift toward carbon-neutral growth, specifically the demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy. It posits that as high-grade deposits deplete, Zambia's lower-grade copper deposits will become increasingly attractive. However, the authors warn that sustained returns require investors to move beyond a 'policy taker' role to become 'development partners' who strengthen state institutions and adhere to strict ESG standards to avoid legacy issues like lead poisoning and corruption.

The 47th G7 summit reaffirmed commitments to a "green revolution" and the goal of halving collective carbon emissions by 2030, while pledging to end new direct government support for international carbon-intensive fossil fuel energy. However, the document highlights a disconnect between these goals and African realities, where fossil fuels account for approximately 80% of energy supply and many states are planning coal-fired power expansions. While the G7 welcomed the commitment of up to $2 billion via Climate Investment Funds, the document notes this is insufficient compared to the $20-30 billion per year the African Development Bank estimates Africa requires for climate action until 2030. Furthermore, the $100 billion promised by developed countries since COP15 remains unrealised.

The report evaluates Ghana's institutional and private sector readiness for the AfCFTA, which officially commenced trading on 1 January 2021. While the Ghanaian government has established policy frameworks and institutional structures, such as the National AfCFTA Coordinating Office, the report finds that local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face significant hurdles. Key findings indicate low production capabilities, limited knowledge of the agreement's protocols, and a lack of export certificates among many firms. However, some companies like Kasapreko Company Limited and Ghandour Cosmetics Limited have successfully exported to other African markets. The report recommends the development of a public national strategic plan, increased decentralized stakeholder consultations, and financial strategies to reduce lending interest rates for local industries.

The report examines Ghana's progress in localising the SDGs, highlighting the use of its decentralised planning system to align global goals with local development plans. While it finds robust institutional and legal frameworks, it identifies significant challenges in funding and data collection.

The report examines the state of women's entrepreneurship in Africa, contrasting the 'market women' in the informal sector with a small cadre of successful formal entrepreneurs. It criticizes South Africa's proposed Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill, arguing that enforced numerical parity is an ineffective approach to empowerment. Instead, the author advocates for improving general business environments, prioritizing girls' education, and reforming laws regarding property and inheritance rights to support all entrepreneurs.

The report examines the rise of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) regulations to combat greenwashing, highlighting the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) as a key driver. It argues that ESG-aligned funds are outperforming non-aligned ones, making ESG compliance essential for accessing global capital. This shift poses a significant risk to fossil fuel-dependent firms, especially in Africa, while benefiting those providing minerals for renewable energy, provided they adhere to genuine sustainability principles.

The study assesses the economic, socio-political, and environmental impacts of Newmont Goldcorp's operations in the Ahafo area of Ghana. It finds that while the 'resource curse' is not evident—with increased local government revenues and improved income levels—challenges remain regarding income instability, youth unemployment, and lack of transparency in the use of mineral royalties. Environmentally, the report notes that Newmont's reclamation and afforestation efforts have led to a net increase in closed forest cover between 2010 and 2020, contrasting with pre-mining deforestation trends.

The document evaluates the EITI, a global transparency standard for extractive industries, noting its success in improving investment climates and contract disclosure while highlighting failures in preventing corruption and ensuring civil society participation.

The report highlights that 600 million Africans lack electricity, with sub-Saharan Africa being the most affected. It argues that while legacy megaprojects like the Inga 3 dam and Stiegler's Gorge are financially and environmentally risky, decentralized renewable energy (DREs) and public-private partnerships offer more sustainable paths to electrification. The text also examines the geopolitical influence of Russia's nuclear diplomacy and China's investment in coal-fired plants, while noting the severe health impacts of biomass reliance among the rural poor.

The paper examines the management of Covid-19 pandemic funds in South Africa, asserting that misappropriation occurred due to ineffective controls despite multiple early warnings. It highlights the vulnerability of the health sector to procurement fraud and the failure of governance regimes to prevent corruption during the crisis.

A case study on the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) project in Talensi, Ghana, detailing how a low-cost land restoration technique has improved soil fertility, increased crop yields, and enhanced the climate resilience of over 10,000 smallholder farmers.

The report examines the failure of COVID-19 lockdown measures in Ghana's urban poor communities, specifically in Accra and Kumasi. It finds that 'by-day-earners' in the informal sector could not comply with stay-at-home orders due to a lack of savings and inadequate government food distribution. Furthermore, the study highlights that social distancing was stifled because the urban poor rely on dense informal networks for food, shelter, financial support, and emotional wellbeing. The author argues that existing poverty reduction strategies, such as MASLOC and LEAP, fail to reach the most vulnerable 'bottom' of the informal economy and recommends that future policies strengthen social ties and improve market infrastructure.

The report details Ghana's response to COVID-19 up to June 23, 2020, highlighting the tension between public health restrictions and economic survival. It describes the strain on health infrastructure, the government's financial interventions, and the socio-economic hardships faced by vulnerable groups and the informal sector. The text also notes the shift in national spending priorities, the local production of medical supplies, and the challenges of maintaining electoral processes during the pandemic.

The paper examines the impact of the 'winner-takes-all' (WTA) electoral system in Zimbabwe since 1980, asserting that this model has been abused by the ruling ZANU-PF party to consolidate power through violence and the marginalization of opposition. It highlights a history of electoral abuse, including the 1990, 2000, 2002, and 2008 elections, and suggests that the current system creates a 'fearful electorate'. The authors propose electoral reforms, specifically the adoption of proportional representation for presidential elections, the formation of coalition governments, and greater political inclusion to ensure a more democratic and peaceful governance process.

As of June 23, 2020, Ghana recorded 14,568 Covid-19 cases and 95 deaths, leading to severe pressure on health infrastructure and the economy. The government responded by implementing partial lockdowns in Accra, Kumasi, and Kasoa, and later announced an ambitious plan to build 88 hospitals in districts currently lacking them. Financial measures included a $100m initial commitment, GHS 600m for SMEs, and utility bill relief. The pandemic disrupted the informal sector, affected road development priorities, and complicated the 2020 general election preparations, specifically the compilation of a new voters' register.

The statement asserts that current economic systems, which treat the environment as a free good and ignore thermodynamic limits, have driven climate change and the sixth mass extinction. It calls for a radical shift toward economic models that prioritize sustainable ecological foundations and biodiversity preservation to maintain a safe and just space within planetary boundaries.

The case study examines the Sowetan, a Johannesburg newspaper established in 1981, to illustrate how organisational culture influences journalism. It details the paper's transition from a community-focused, nation-building publication during and after apartheid to its struggle with commercial repositioning under new ownership in the 2000s. The author argues that the resistance of Sowetan journalists to corporate 'professionalism' and tabloid shifts demonstrates that journalistic identity is forged within specific organisational and social contexts, diverging from Anglo-American modes.

The report by Good Governance Africa (GGA) outlines critical interventions for South Africa's education sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the phased return of learners and the protection of vulnerable youth. It highlights severe infrastructure gaps, such as 3,475 schools lacking adequate water supply, and warns that the 'digital divide' prevents the poorest 80% of learners from accessing curricular learning during lockdown. GGA advocates for the prioritisation of Grade R learners due to their low infection risk and the critical nature of early language acquisition. The document also emphasizes the plight of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, where 99% of practitioners reported a loss of fees, and calls for the integration of unemployed youth and parents as support resources to mitigate shortages in educators and psycho-social services.

The document examines how COVID-19 disrupted African extractive industries through reduced global demand, supply chain failures, and operational shutdowns. It highlights the vulnerability of oil-dependent economies like Nigeria and the specific challenges facing South Africa's mining sector. Conversely, it identifies a 'silver lining' in the increased demand for gold due to its role in rapid antibody tests. The report argues that the crisis provides a governance opportunity for African nations to diversify their economies, reduce reliance on Chinese demand, and implement structural reforms to protect property rights and broaden tax bases.