Ghana Medical Trust Fund explores partnership to expand access to diagnostic services

September 12, 2026

• The Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Makhtar Diop, will visit Ghana from September 15 to 17, 2026.
• The visit aims to engage government and private sector leaders to boost private investment and support Ghana's development priorities.
• Discussions will focus on mobilizing private capital, strengthening businesses, expanding access to finance, and creating jobs across key sectors like agribusiness, renewable energy, and the creative economy.
• Mr. Diop will meet senior government officials, business leaders, entrepreneurs, civil society, and academic institutions.
• IFC's commitments in Ghana significantly increased to $670 million in fiscal year 2026, up from $61 million in fiscal year 2021, reflecting its growing role in mobilizing private investment.

September 12, 2026

• The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) demands the complete abolition of the 15% priority placement allocation in the Senior High School (SHS) system.
• GNAPS argues that the current policy unfairly advantages students from public basic schools over those from private schools in securing preferred SHS placements.
• They contend that the definition of 'deprived schools' is flawed, wrongly equating public school attendance with low-income status and excluding private schools operating in challenging communities.
• GNAPS warns that the policy threatens the sustainability of private schools by potentially causing declining enrollment as parents move children to public schools for better placement odds, leading to financial difficulties.
• The association advocates for an SHS placement system based on equal opportunity for all students, irrespective of the type of basic school they attended.

September 12, 2026

• Saudi Arabia has closed its critical East-West oil pipeline following a drone attack originating from Iraq, amidst an escalating Middle East conflict.
• Iraq admitted the drone attack came from one of its provinces bordering Iran, leading to the removal of a military commander and an ongoing investigation.
• The incident coincides with significant advances by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have seized control of much of the Red Sea coast, including the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
• The pipeline closure impacts 4-5% of global oil supply, and the widening conflict has pushed global crude oil prices above $100 a barrel for the first time since July.
• Saudi Arabia has reserved its right to retaliate but supports Iraq's efforts to prevent future attacks, while the Gulf Co-operation Council condemned the incident as a dangerous escalation.