AGP Executive Report

Public Sector Leadership: Ghana’s Labour Minister Dr Abdul Rashid Pelpuo backs the new National Informal Waste Worker Union (NIWWU), calling for tighter collaboration with recycling firms and CSOs to improve welfare and formalise circular-economy work. Agribusiness & Jobs: Angola’s Parliament Speaker urged stronger gender-equality policies, while Ghana’s MoFA and the African Agribusiness Consortium will set up a 750-acre vegetable hub to help 118 RUDN graduates move into commercial farming and create employment. Cybersecurity & Work: INTERPOL reports ransomware detections are surging across Africa, with South Africa responsible for 92% of cases in 2025—raising pressure on employers to train staff and strengthen backups and incident response. Labour & Restructuring: South Africa’s Premier Group has started Section 189 consultations over a proposed Tulbagh fruit-processing plant closure, warning of major impacts on workers and the local supply chain. Trade & SME Growth: Stanbic IBTC and Anambra State convened a business summit in Onitsha to expand finance and cross-border opportunities for MSMEs. Tourism Investment: Liberia’s LSEZA and LNTA signed an MoU to develop the first Special Tourism Economic Zone at Lake Piso, aiming to attract investors and create local jobs. Health & Governance: UN warns ISIS remains a serious threat, especially across Africa’s Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, as affiliates adapt and expand.

Labour & Contracts: South Africa’s Labour Court says restraint of trade can still bind a worker even after retirement, if it protects a legitimate business interest and is reasonable in scope and duration. Workplace Risk & Insurance: A Johannesburg warehouse fire is a fresh reminder that insurers should help firms prevent losses, not just pay after disasters. Women & Pay: A Women’s Month piece highlights how SA women face a wider retirement gap and caregiving-driven financial pressure that compounds over time. Climate & Agriculture: Storm costs are rising for SA farmers, with insurers reporting major crop losses and more complex, overlapping weather risks. Municipal Performance: BLSA CEO Busisiwe Mavuso warns municipal dysfunction is now an economic risk ahead of 2026 local elections. Education for Working Adults: UCC launches an eCampus for postgraduate study, letting professionals earn MBAs, MScs and PhDs without leaving jobs. Youth & Politics: The African Youth Survey finds young Africans back democracy but want an Africa-specific model focused on jobs and responsive leadership. Corporate Social Responsibility: African Bank says social responsibility is a core business imperative, not a tick-box, built through co-creation with communities and customers. Legal Accountability: In SA, a Durban murder trial sees dramatic courtroom clashes over conflicting versions put to a witness. Mobility & Startups (Tanzania): Enabel, Mercy Corps and NMB Foundation roll out a Sh2.6bn EV support programme, while startup funding momentum could help Tanzania hit $100m annually.

Flood Recovery & HR Continuity: Out of Africa Wildlife Park launched a coordinated flood recovery after late-July flash flooding damaged fencing, roads and animal-care access, reopening limited areas while crews restore containment and access. Workplace Safety & Compliance: KZN teachers’ unions backed faster vetting of all public-school teachers against the National Child Protection Register, following a court settlement after a convicted school offender was not listed. Job Protection & Social Support: Business Day TV questioned whether UIF’s TERS is still saving jobs amid delays and backlogs, as South Africa’s unemployment insurance scheme faces reform calls. Women’s Career Barriers: South Africa’s Women’s Month spotlighted the “invisible workload” (mental load) that drains women’s time and energy for leadership, networking and business growth. Talent Development Success: Shoprite’s Retail Readiness Programme helped Rechaider Matloga rise from till packer to branch manager, showing internal career pathways. Migration & Labour Policy: A new US proposal would let states sponsor temporary foreign workers to fill local shortages, with federal vetting kept in place. Governance & Leadership: PIC CEO Patrick Dlamini returns after a court set aside his suspension, citing board authority and process failures. AI for Development: The World Bank says developing countries have a narrow window to use low-cost AI tools for services like health and agriculture, but must fix power, connectivity and skills gaps. Entrepreneurship in Fuel Retail: Cindy Ramokoto relaunches bp Thorntree, expanding women-led ownership in South Africa’s service-station sector. Diplomatic Restructuring: The Trump administration plans to close five smaller US diplomatic missions, including a consulate in Winnipeg and a branch office in Douala, aiming to cut costs.

Cross-Border Jobs Push: Nigeria’s Anambra and Delta governors are betting on deeper regional integration and “buy local” consumption to unlock mass employment, with Soludo pointing to a planned free trade zone and aerotropolis model. Migration & Work Risks: Ceuta’s migrant surge was fuelled by social media rumours, with tens of thousands rushing the border and dozens dying—an HR and labour-market shock that also feeds xenophobia and job insecurity across the region. Procurement & Project Delivery: Uganda’s Kigezi tourism road scandal deepens as AfDB-linked procurement questions grow after an Egyptian contractor allegedly pocketed large advances and abandoned works, leaving communities stranded. Banking for Trade: Stanbic Kenya launched direct RMB settlement via CIPS to cut cross-border costs and speed up China-Kenya trade—good news for exporters and payroll-linked business growth. Industrial Expansion & Hiring: Liberia’s LSEZA signed a US$32m deal to build a hygiene-products manufacturing zone, targeting 150+ direct jobs. Rail Investment: South Africa’s Traxtion received the first locomotives shipment for a R1.8bn rolling-stock programme, with refurbishment and more orders planned. Workplace Safety & Skills: Kenya’s tourism sector welcomed the long-delayed Ronald Ngala Utalii College opening in September, aiming to strengthen hospitality training and reduce skills gaps. Legal/HR Compliance: South Africa’s courts case updates include DNA clearing Job Sikhala in an explosives matter, while another story highlights when creditors may seek liquidation—both reminders that governance and due process shape business stability.

Workplace Safety & Social Protection: Nigeria’s NSITF urged MSMEs to pair AI adoption with worker welfare and occupational safety at an ECOWAS/UNDP-backed AI master training launch. Digital Sovereignty: Senegal convened stakeholders to align its Government Enterprise Architecture with its DPI strategy, aiming for stronger control of AI and cybersecurity. Ebola Response in DRC: In eastern DRC, community leaders and responders report misinformation and attacks on treatment facilities, while Uganda nears the end of its outbreak. Telecoms Careers: Obiageli Obii Okafor became the first African woman to win the Women in Telecoms Champion award in the UK, via her PMHelp mentoring work. South Africa Labour & Utilities: Cape Town escalated an intergovernmental dispute over Metro Police powers, while Johannesburg’s Children’s Memorial Institute faces termination notices for electricity and water. Fuel & Jobs Scams: South Africa’s August fuel mix shifts (petrol down, diesel up) and the government warned of fake overseas job offers tied to trafficking. Xenophobia Watch: Activists in Yeoville pushed back against xenophobic harassment targeting immigrants.

Visa Integrity: VFS Global says it only handles visa intake, biometrics and document processing, while client governments decide approvals and timelines—alongside new anti-fraud steps to curb scams. Energy & Jobs: Ghana’s Tema Oil Refinery is being pushed to expand capacity to 100,000 barrels/day after refurbishment, with government pledging to reduce political interference. Industrial Push: Touchstone Capital Partners reaffirms its commitment to Ghana’s $12bn Petroleum Hub Lot One, aiming to accelerate preparatory work toward execution. Fiscal Shock: Capitec flags South Africa’s R50.4tn fiscal deficit as a warning sign for debt, inflation pressure and private-sector investment. Women Entrepreneurship: FirstBank Nigeria awards N10m in grants through its Spark A Gem Challenge to support women-owned businesses. Learning for Working Pros: University of Cape Coast launches UCC eCampus for postgraduate study (MBA, MSc, PhD and more) for professionals across Ghana and beyond. Health Crisis: Congo’s Ebola outbreak is driving pregnant women away from hospitals, pushing maternal deaths higher. ID Backlog: South Africa’s Home Affairs urges 360,000 people to collect unclaimed Smart IDs and documents ready for pickup. Inclusive Finance: Alternative Bank wins awards for sustainable development and humanitarian impact, reinforcing its push for broader access to finance.

Migration & Borders: Spain’s Ceuta enclave crisis deepened as the death toll from the Morocco–Spain rush hit at least 72, with 1,000+ treated by health services and tens of thousands returning to Morocco within 48 hours, reigniting EU border and humanitarian debate. Work & Visas: Spain says non-EU workers must secure both a work permit and residence visa before starting work, with employer authorisation first and deportation risk for non-compliance. Telecom Regulation: Ghana’s 5G spectrum auction timeline has been delayed by the National Communications Authority, alongside tighter ownership and operational rules. Jobs & Pay: Finland’s entry-level pay is set via sector collective bargaining (no single national minimum wage), with visa-free access for only two African countries. Investment & Employment: Somalia faces $1.07bn in undisbursed World Bank funds, while Tunisia’s Bako Motors exported its first EV batch to Germany, aiming to create up to 150,000 jobs. HR & Policy: Liberia’s Boakai moves against alleged drug-cartel infiltration, dismissing senior officials tied to investigations. Career & Skills: Zimbabwe’s UNDP-backed agritech push is cutting labour burdens for women farmers, boosting production with tools like threshers and grinder-choppers.

Ceuta Return Wave: Thousands of migrants who crossed into Spain’s North African enclave are streaming back into Morocco in small groups, describing hunger, exhaustion and hostility after days in limbo at the border. Human Trafficking Watch: Malawi’s Home Affairs minister warns trafficking has gone digital, with social media and fake overseas job adverts luring victims into forced labour and abuse. Jobs & Growth in Nigeria: FirstBank says Nigeria’s next phase hinges on whether macro stability turns into real investment, productivity and household welfare, with seven key forces to watch before end-2026. Election Transparency in Nigeria: INEC has started publicly displaying 2027 presidential candidates’ credentials, including Tinubu/Shettima and Obi/Kwankwaso, as scrutiny ramps up. Women’s Economic Power: South Africa’s Women’s Month launch pushes women into real control of wealth-producing resources, with market access for women-owned businesses. Labour Crunch in SA Agriculture: South Africa’s agricultural output is taking a hit as anti-migrant unrest drives foreign workers out, leaving farms short-staffed. Energy for Households: Nigeria flags off LPG rollout under the Decade of Gas plan, targeting cleaner cooking for millions and job creation. Tax Crime Sentencing: A Durban court sentences a woman to 18 years for fraudulent VAT claims worth over R3.7m, highlighting the cost of tax fraud.

World Cup Governance Shake-up: UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA boss Gianni Infantino after he abandoned a plan to sell World Cup profits to private investors, with calls for accountability and a wider leadership review. Migration & Jobs Pressure: Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez condemns “selfish” EU responses as migrants surge into Ceuta from Morocco; many return home citing hunger, exhaustion and hostility, while Spain moves to erect a 500-metre sea barrier. Labour Market Snapshot: Africa’s labour force hit 509.2 million in 2022, with women still underrepresented (52.7% vs 71.8% for men) and migrant work concentrated in informal, labour-intensive sectors. Clean Energy for Households: Nigeria launches a nationwide LPG rollout targeting 5m households by 2030 to cut deforestation, improve health and create jobs across the gas value chain. Elections & Public Scrutiny: Nigeria’s INEC begins public display of Tinubu and Shettima credentials for 2027, kicking off verification and challenges. Political Rivalry: Atiku fires back at Obasanjo over third-term claims, stressing constitutional opposition and past support during Obasanjo’s imprisonment. Tourism Through Food: Africa bets on gastronomy to attract tourists, linking indigenous ingredients and culinary experiences to local farmers and jobs. Textiles Value Chain Push: Cotton-to-clothing talks urge Africa to capture more value by building integrated textile and apparel industries instead of exporting raw cotton.

Ceuta Border Crisis: Around 50,000 migrants crossed into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta this week, with at least 57 deaths reported; Spain says most have been returned to Morocco and blames smugglers for misreading a narrow Supreme Court ruling on deportations. Tax Crackdown: South Africa’s National Treasury proposes tightening donations tax rules for high-net-worth couples using staggered emigration, limiting the spouse exemption to cases where the recipient is a South African tax resident. SRD Grant Rejections: More than 10 million SRD applications were rejected in 2025/26, with reasons including income levels, alternative support and verification failures—raising pressure on temporary income relief. SASSA Payment Clarity: SASSA says August 2026 grant reviews will shift payments to Friday, Aug 7, with Older Persons, Disability and Children’s grants rolling out Tue–Thu. Work & Security: US and allies warn of North Korean-linked IT workers using fake identities to land remote jobs and funnel salaries to nuclear and ballistic programs. Jobs-First Education Debate: A new push in Africa challenges long-essay, theory-heavy education, arguing graduates must build and prove skills that translate into employment. FIFA Governance: Gianni Infantino scraps a plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity after backlash, with FIFA staff saying planning was opaque. Health & Skills: Gavi commits $500m to Nigeria’s immunisation over five years, while South Africa’s public sector training highlights work-integrated learning for future administrators.

Media Jobs: South Africa’s Media24 has started consultations on a new editorial operating model, raising fresh fears of job cuts at one of the country’s biggest media groups. Hiring & HR Ops: A CNBC Africa poll says hiring is getting longer and more demanding, with more background checks and AI screening shaping recruitment decisions. Work Permits: The UAE says two communicable diseases—HIV and tuberculosis—can disqualify foreign workers from getting work or residence permits. Energy Leadership: Nigeria’s Seplat Energy is set to welcome a new CEO, with expectations high for performance and transformation as the sector faces gas, infrastructure and energy-transition pressures. SME Finance: The EBRD and KCB Bank Kenya launch a $100m facility to expand SME credit, with a focus on women-led and green investments. Migration & Labour Risks: South Africa’s social development warns of fake overseas job adverts luring victims into trafficking and forced cybercrime. Regional Youth Policy: ECOWAS wraps a workshop to consolidate youth, sports and volunteerism policies, pushing stronger monitoring and inclusion. UAE/HR Compliance: The UAE’s permit rules underline how health checks can directly affect foreign hiring pipelines. Border Facts Check: AP’s fact focus on Spain’s Ceuta crisis challenges claims about policy “amnesties” driving the surge, pointing instead to an amnesty window and criminal gangs.

Driving Licence Reform (South Africa): South Africa is set to extend light-vehicle licence validity to 10 years, cutting renewals, admin costs and pressure on licensing centres, while heavy commercial vehicles and professional permits keep existing cycles. HR Leadership & Skills: HR Connect in Accra heard calls for HR professionals to move from certification to real competence so they can influence business strategy at executive level. Eskom Restructuring (Jobs & Power): President Ramaphosa endorsed Phase I of the Eskom Restructuring Task Team, paving the way for an independent Transmission System Operator to support competition, investment and energy security. Public Sector Integrity Reset (South Africa): South Africa’s justice ministry ordered a six-month reset at IDAC, including skills and lifestyle audits for all staff and reviews of cases before court. Tax Scam Alert (South Africa): SARS warned of AI-generated refund phishing emails and SMSes that push victims to fake sites; taxpayers should delete, block and use official channels. Entrepreneurship Pipeline: Enactus South Africa crowned Nelson Mandela University’s Batho Pele BioLoop Africa as national champion, spotlighting measurable community impact and sustainable social enterprise models. Tanzania Health Education Link: UDOM and Shifaa Pan African Hospitals signed an MoU to strengthen healthcare, medical education, research and innovation. Uganda Diaspora Investing: Equity Bank Uganda launched a diaspora webinar with Bank of Uganda leadership to turn remittances into long-term business and jobs investment.

Anti-Corruption Reset: Nigeria’s government says it won’t disband IDAC after Andrea Johnson’s resignation, instead launching a six-month reset with staff vetting, lifestyle audits and case audits to restore public trust. Fuel Subsidy Transparency: Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele says Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal savings will be published soon, with funds tied to debt servicing, the ₦70,000 minimum wage and education support via NELFUND. Youth Skills to Jobs: Nigeria’s Almajiri-to-Tech programme graduates 21 former Almajiri children as tech technicians and entrepreneurs after six months of hands-on training in robotics, repairs and drones. Migration & Xenophobia Focus: South Africa’s ties with the rest of Africa will be debated at a continental roundtable as xenophobia and labour migration reshape Pan-Africanism. Cyber Safety: Kaspersky reports millions of web-based attacks blocked across South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria in H1 2026, with AI boosting attacker speed. Scam Alert: Kenya warns of a fake “NYOTA Fund Phase 2” Facebook page pushing paid “processing fees” for a free government youth fund. Trade & Jobs: Lesotho is excluded from new US forced-labour tariff measures, protecting about 34,000 textile jobs under AGOA. EV/CNG Regulation: Nigeria’s FRSC says it’s building a safety and regulatory framework for EVs and CNG vehicles to support cleaner mobility.

Political Violence Watch: Nigeria’s Atiku Abubakar condemned the assault on a Tinubu supporter in Delta State, urging citizens to use constitutional channels instead of intimidation. Jobs & Governance: WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Nigeria’s leaders that reforms must deliver jobs and tangible benefits, warning that good governance alone isn’t enough without implementation. Trade & Employment Risk: Nigeria’s non-oil exports face a new threat as a US 12.5% tariff could hit competitiveness and foreign exchange earnings, with SEREC urging countermeasures. Livestock Value Chains: Nigeria’s FG is exploring public-private partnerships to boost dairy output, cut import dependence and create jobs across milk production, processing and vaccines. Workplace Rights: A Limpopo court awarded a dentist R250,000 after a colleague’s vulgar insult was ruled defamatory, reinforcing protections for dignity at work. Youth Pressure for Delivery: A new African Youth Survey shows rising optimism, but young people are demanding jobs, clean government and real democracy. Skills for the AI Era: South Africa’s AI progress is held back by the digital divide, with many adults lacking computer access and basic literacy. Insecurity Funding Debate: Nigeria’s Northern governors’ security fund is welcomed, but commentators question whether more spending can fix weak governance that fuels recruitment into crime. Consumer & Business Scrutiny: Shein faces FTC investigation in the US, raising the stakes for online retail compliance and potential costs. Port Jobs & Skills: South Africa’s Transnet docked a 228m tanker at Durban, supporting maintenance work and local ship-repair employment. Workplace Culture: Research suggests employees are less satisfied with bosses who frequently swear, making profanity a risky management style.

Higher Education-Industry Link: East Africa universities are being urged to deepen ties with industry and turn research into practical solutions, with Kenya’s education leadership calling for stronger bridges between discovery and deployment. Ghana Academia-Industry Pact: Jospong Group and the Ghana Scholarly Society sign an MoU to use research and data to tackle business and development challenges, with workforce development flagged as key. Zimbabwe Press Freedom: Zimbabwe’s High Court quashes criminal charges against editor Faith Zaba over a satirical column, a win for media freedom and a reminder of how easily dissent can be targeted. Somalia Jobs-First Finance: Somalia’s finance minister warns that hundreds of millions in income are disappearing and urges banks to redirect credit toward production and jobs. Nigeria Digital Trade Implementation: Nigeria inaugurates the ADAPT forum under AfCFTA to move from policy to digital trade infrastructure and implementation. South Africa Labour Pressure: A survey says over half of employed South Africans are turning to gambling and high-risk investing to plug budget gaps, raising concerns for household stability. Anti-Migrant Violence Response: Christian leaders intensify efforts to calm South Africa’s anti-migrant unrest and discourage vigilante action as displacement rises. Youth & Democracy: A survey finds Africa’s youth still backs democracy but wants an African model tied to jobs, representation and accountability. Workplace Pay Dispute: A BAIC plant strike in South Africa spotlights wage-setting and enforcement gaps, with unions pushing for parity with industry rates.

Labour Compliance Push: South Africa’s Deputy Employment and Labour Minister Jomo Sibiya will address petroleum employers at an Employer Breakfast Session focused on OHSA, BCEA, UIA, COIDA and the National Minimum Wage. Municipal Funding Watch: National Treasury will release withheld July 2026 Local Government Equitable Share transfers from 31 July, but stresses it’s not a sign of compliance—weak governance and financial misconduct issues remain. Infrastructure for Jobs: Infrastructure South Africa opens Project Preparation Bid Window III to help public bodies turn projects into bankable, investment-ready plans worth R1bn+ to speed delivery and employment. Anti-Corruption Tension: IDAC head Andrea Johnson’s resignation sparks calls for accountability after charges were withdrawn in a case involving Crime Intelligence leadership and a disputed appointment. Local Industry Investment: Goldwind officially opens a Cape Town solution factory to expand wind operations across Africa, with testing, warehousing and training functions. Development Finance Signal: Zimbabwe’s admission to the BRICS-linked New Development Bank is framed as a step toward African development autonomy and long-term infrastructure funding. Workplace Safety Tragedy: Eastern Cape police open an inquest after a shop fire killed six foreign nationals; only one escaped. Migration & Livelihoods: Uganda highlights refugee entrepreneurship in Kampala as a jobs-and-business engine beyond aid. Health Policy: UN-backed coverage warns HIV prevention is being hit by funding cuts, even as long-acting tools could reshape the response.