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The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ghana have formalised a new economic Growth Partnership designed to accelerate job creation, expand trade, improve infrastructure and strengthen skills development across Ghana between 2026 and 2028.

The agreement deepens bilateral cooperation and is expected to channel major private-sector-led investment into key sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

Signed during President John Dramani Mahama’s official visit to the UK, the framework builds on roughly £215 million in deals previously agreed at the Ghana Investment Summit in London.

It also reinforces the long-standing economic relationship between the two nations as they mark five years since the UK–Ghana Trade Partnership Agreement came into force.

A Four-Pillar Strategy for Economic Growth

At the heart of the partnership is a four-part strategy focused on attracting private investment, simplifying trade processes for Ghanaian businesses, strengthening infrastructure and industrial capacity, and expanding access to skills and education.

Officials from both countries say the approach is designed to shift more of Ghana’s growth model toward private-sector leadership, while making it easier for international investors and local businesses to operate in a more predictable environment.

The plan also places strong emphasis on expanding opportunities for young people and women through skills development and employment creation.

Major Infrastructure Push in Maritime and Transport Sector

One of the flagship projects under the agreement is a £101 million UK-supported investment aimed at building the first commercial-scale ship repair and dry-docking facility in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Takoradi Floating Dock Project—also known as ShipRite—will be developed in partnership with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and backed by a consortium of investors including the UK-co-owned Private Infrastructure Development Group.

Once completed, the facility is expected to generate up to 430 direct jobs, with around 30 percent reserved for women.

It is also expected to strengthen Ghana’s position as a regional maritime hub while reducing emissions linked to long-distance vessel servicing.

Green Finance and Climate Infrastructure Expansion

A separate £5 million UK-funded initiative will support climate-focused infrastructure development through a new Green Project Preparation Facility hosted by Financial Sector Deepening Africa in partnership with the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund.

The programme is designed to turn early-stage infrastructure ideas into bankable investment opportunities, with the potential to unlock up to £180 million in deals over three years.

Officials say the facility will also help attract UK firms while supporting Ghana’s national infrastructure priorities.

Forestry Investment and Carbon Market Growth

Private sector investor Mere Plantations has announced plans to expand reforestation efforts in Ghana, including the introduction of biochar technology to improve soil quality and environmental outcomes.

The company is preparing to launch an £85 million reforestation investment fund listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Private Markets platform.

The fund will be the first Article 9 “dark green” fund of its kind on the platform and is backed by the Ghana Forestry Commission.

It is expected to channel international capital into carbon and reforestation projects, restore degraded land, and generate employment in rural communities while positioning Ghana as a growing destination for nature-based investment.

Artificial Intelligence and Science Collaboration Expands

The partnership also extends into digital transformation and science policy, with a new collaboration supporting the implementation of Ghana’s national AI strategy.

Backed by £6 million in UK funding, the initiative will enhance cooperation between UK experts and Ghanaian institutions to develop artificial intelligence capacity and digital innovation.

In addition, ten Physics Partnerships supported through UK Research and Innovation will strengthen academic collaboration between universities in both countries.

Education and Healthcare Skills Development

Education remains a central pillar of the agreement, with new Transnational Education guidelines expected to open the door for more partnerships between UK and Ghanaian institutions.

In healthcare, a £4 million five-year training partnership between a UK-based provider and Ghana’s Mangel Klicks will deliver specialist clinical engineering training.

The programme is intended to improve healthcare systems and expand technical skills across the wider region.

Forest Restoration and Community Employment

Environmental investment also features prominently, with Rainforest Builder committing £9 million toward forest restoration projects in Ghana’s Oti Region.

The initiative is expected to support both ecological recovery and local job creation.

These efforts complement wider climate and sustainability goals embedded in the partnership, particularly around land restoration and green economic development.

Trade Growth and Long-Term Economic Ties

The UK and Ghana also highlighted steady progress in bilateral trade, which now stands at approximately £1.6 billion—an increase of 12.5 percent since 2024.

British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, currently has around £140 million invested in Ghana, supporting sectors such as manufacturing and export-led businesses including the UK–Ghana garments firm Maa Grace through Growth Investment Partners.

UK High Commission: “Growth Must Be Inclusive”

Speaking at the signing, Christian Rogg said the agreement is intended to deliver visible economic impact for ordinary citizens.

He described the partnership as a practical framework for job creation, improved infrastructure and expanded access to finance, adding that growth must be both inclusive and driven by Ghana’s own development priorities.

A Broader Push for Investment-Led Development

Together, the initiatives reflect a broader effort by both countries to scale up investment, deepen trade links and support industrial transformation in Ghana.

Officials say the framework is designed to encourage long-term capital flows while creating commercial opportunities across infrastructure, energy, technology and education sectors.

As implementation begins ahead of the 2026–2028 window, both governments are positioning the partnership as a long-term economic collaboration aimed at reshaping Ghana’s development trajectory through sustained investment and private-sector participation.

A major oil terminal in St Petersburg was struck in a coordinated Ukrainian drone attack, sending thick smoke over one of Russia’s key Baltic export facilities just hours before a flagship international economic forum opened in the city.

The facility, located at the Great Port of St Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland, is among Russia’s largest fuel storage and export hubs, processing millions of tons of petroleum products annually.

The strike disrupted operations at a site positioned only a short distance from the venue hosting the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

The timing of the attack appeared deliberately aligned with preparations for the high-profile event, often referred to as “Russia’s Davos,” which is designed to project economic strength and attract foreign investment despite ongoing Western sanctions.

Explosions Shake City Ahead of Putin’s Economic Showcase

Residents across St Petersburg reported hearing sustained explosions and witnessing drones moving across the skyline, including areas near the Lakhta Centre, the city’s tallest skyscraper.

Flights at Pulkovo Airport were significantly delayed, with dozens of services affected as air defence systems were activated.

Local authorities later claimed that a large number of incoming drones had been intercepted, though visible damage and fires suggested multiple successful strikes.

Witnesses described hours of continuous blasts, with one resident saying the city experienced “thunderous explosions” that left neighbourhoods shaken as emergency services moved toward affected areas.

Naval Base at Kronstadt Also Targeted

Alongside the oil terminal strike, Ukraine also hit infrastructure linked to the naval base at Kronstadt, a key facility for Russia’s Baltic Fleet.

Regional officials confirmed damage to “infrastructure facilities” at the base and reported several injuries, though they denied any fatalities.

Independent footage and Ukrainian sources suggested that up to four vessels may have been struck during the operation.

Among the vessels reported damaged was the corvette Boykiy, a Steregushchy-class warship valued at approximately £120 million and in service since 2013.

Video circulating online appeared to show the ship engulfed in flames, though these claims have not been independently verified by Russian authorities.

Kremlin Region Officials Downplay Damage Amid Contradictory Reports

St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov acknowledged that infrastructure had been hit at Kronstadt but avoided confirming the extent of the damage to military assets.

Cleanup operations were said to be underway, with injured personnel receiving treatment.

Elsewhere, regional authorities claimed that dozens of drones were intercepted before reaching their targets.

However, those claims contrasted with widespread visual evidence of fires at the oil terminal and port facilities.

Russian sources also alleged, without presenting evidence, that Baltic states may have enabled Ukrainian operations through airspace access—an accusation firmly denied in previous incidents by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland.

Economic Forum Proceeds Under Shadow of War

The strikes occurred just as the St Petersburg International Economic Forum opened, bringing delegates from dozens of countries, including a limited US presence, while most Western NATO states stayed away.

The event is a cornerstone of Russia’s economic diplomacy and is intended to signal resilience amid sanctions and war-related isolation.

This year’s theme emphasised “pragmatic dialogue,” a message quickly overshadowed by the scale of the attacks unfolding nearby.

High-profile attendees were expected to include senior Russian officials and international guests, while family members of Vladimir Putin were also scheduled to appear as speakers during the forum programme.

Intelligence Claims Raise Questions Over Kremlin Awareness

A Washington-based defence think tank assessing the war suggested that Russian leadership may be receiving distorted battlefield assessments, potentially shaping strategic decisions in Moscow.

The analysis argued that repeated overstatements of military success may be contributing to a false perception within the Kremlin that Russia can still achieve its objectives in the medium term, despite mounting battlefield pressure and economic strain.

Wider Escalation Across Russian Territory

The St Petersburg strikes formed part of a broader wave of attacks across Russian-controlled areas.

Reports indicated a bus strike in occupied Donetsk that left multiple casualties, while a weapons production facility in the Tambov region was also engulfed in flames following separate drone activity.

The Progress plant, which produces aviation and missile control systems, was among the industrial sites reportedly affected.

These developments came shortly after Russia launched one of its largest coordinated aerial barrages on Ukraine in recent months, involving hundreds of drones and missiles that caused significant casualties across several Ukrainian cities.

Economic Strain Deepens Behind the Frontlines

Beyond the battlefield, Russia’s wartime economy is facing mounting pressure, with rising defence spending, sanctions, and declining fiscal flexibility combining to strain national finances.

Government forecasts have pointed to widening budget deficits and slowing growth, while fuel shortages have been reported in regions such as Crimea, where residents have faced long queues at petrol stations and rationing measures.

Economic analysts warn that sustained military expenditure is increasingly difficult to maintain without structural adjustments, with internal debate emerging over whether defence spending can continue to expand without deeper cuts elsewhere.

Uncertainty Grows as War Enters New Phase

With attacks now reaching deeper into symbolic and strategic Russian territory, the conflict is increasingly shaping both economic and political narratives inside Russia.

The strike on St Petersburg’s oil infrastructure—carried out as the country hosted its most prominent economic showcase—underscores how the war continues to spill into core domestic spaces once considered far from the frontline.

As both sides escalate operations, the overlap between battlefield pressure and economic strain appears to be tightening, leaving Russia facing growing challenges on multiple fronts simultaneously.

A wave of shock has swept through Ibadan following the reported abduction of close family members of former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial hopeful in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu.

His younger sister and her twin children were reportedly seized by armed men in a sudden attack on Wednesday morning.

Attack Reported in Challenge Area

The incident is said to have taken place in the Challenge area of Ibadan South West Local Government Area, a busy part of the city in Oyo State.

An eyewitness account indicated that the family was leaving their residence in Elewura, heading toward the expressway, when they were intercepted by the attackers.

According to reports, the gunmen struck swiftly, forcing the victims into their vehicle before fleeing the scene.

The precise timing and execution of the operation left residents in shock and fear.

Media Aide Confirms Abduction

Confirmation of the incident came through one of Adelabu’s media aides, Femi Awogboro, who disclosed that the victims included the politician’s younger sister and her twin sons identified as Peter and Paul.

He explained that the family was en route from Elewura to connect to the express road when the armed men ambushed them and whisked them away to an unknown destination.

Growing Security Concerns in Oyo State

The abduction adds to a troubling pattern of kidnappings recorded in recent months across Oyo State.

In a separate incident earlier this year, over 40 teachers and students were reportedly abducted during an attack in the Oriire Local Government Area, raising concerns about the safety of schools and rural communities.

Residents have continued to express anxiety over what they describe as increasing boldness of armed groups operating within the state.

Previous High-Profile Abduction Cases

The latest case also follows another high-profile kidnapping involving a chieftain of the APC in the state, Wale Oriade, who was abducted in December 2025.

He was seized at his office inside a shopping complex along the Akala Expressway area of Ibadan.

Eyewitnesses at the time described how armed men arrived in a small vehicle, executed the operation with precision, and escaped immediately with their victim.

Police Response Still Uncertain

As of Wednesday, official confirmation from law enforcement authorities remained limited.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olayinka Ayanlade, stated that he could not independently verify the incident at the time of reporting and asked for more time for confirmation.

Meanwhile, the development has intensified calls for improved security measures across Ibadan and other vulnerable parts of Oyo State as investigations continue.

Pressure is intensifying on the president of the Oxford Union after private messages allegedly attributed to her surfaced, prompting accusations that she made comments suggesting Hamas could one day be “lauded as heroes” and describing the October 7 attacks in terms of “proportionality.”

The remarks were reportedly shared in a WhatsApp group made up of around 100 incoming students preparing to begin their studies in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Oxford.

The group became the setting for a heated exchange over the Israel–Gaza conflict, during which Arwa Elrayess, a PPE student and current Union president, responded to questions about her interpretation of the violence and its context.

According to the messages, she referenced what she described as decades of mistreatment of Palestinians and argued that the events of October 7 should not be viewed in isolation from that broader historical backdrop.

Debate Over “Proportionality” and October 7 Comments

In the exchange, one student challenged the framing of the October 7 attacks as potentially “proportional.”

Elrayess is said to have replied that she did, in fact, view the argument as defensible, while adding that some could even consider the response “less than proportional,” given the circumstances she attributed to long-standing conflict.

She also stated that proportionality, in her view, should not be interpreted as moral justification, but rather as an explanation of why such events were not unexpected.

Her comments further expanded into a broader argument about cycles of violence in conflict zones.

She suggested that resistance movements are often labeled as terrorist organisations by Western governments until political outcomes shift historical narratives, citing examples such as the Irish Republican Army and the Palestine Liberation Organization, which she described as having engaged in guerrilla warfare and violence before later receiving reassessment in historical memory.

In another message, she wrote that attempts by Palestinians to achieve independence through non-violent methods had, in her view, been met with failure and further suffering, reinforcing what she characterised as the inevitability of violent escalation under prolonged oppression.

She also referred to personal family experiences connected to Gaza, stating that her relatives had endured repeated loss and trauma, and described the scale of suffering in the region as comparable to “many October 7ths.”

Growing Institutional and Student Response

The comments have triggered strong condemnation from sections of the university community, with critics arguing that the remarks cross the line between political analysis and the normalisation of extremist violence.

A student organisation, Oxford Students Against Discrimination, said the messages were deeply distressing for Jewish students and contributed to an environment of fear and exclusion.

The group called for her resignation, arguing that leadership of a major student institution carries responsibility for maintaining trust and safety across the university community.

Former members of the Oxford Union have also weighed in, with one describing the statements as “sickening” and incompatible with the principles of open academic debate.

They argued that the comments amounted to the normalisation of violence rather than legitimate political discourse.

Oxford Union Leadership Under Renewed Scrutiny

The controversy adds to a series of recent leadership challenges within the Oxford Union.

The organisation has faced internal turbulence in recent months, including the removal of a previous president following unrelated controversial remarks made after the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Under Elrayess’ tenure, the Union has also drawn attention for inviting a range of high-profile and polarising speakers, including political commentators whose planned appearances were later affected by visa decisions linked to public interest considerations.

These developments have placed renewed focus on the Union’s governance, its speaker choices, and the wider question of how it balances free speech with institutional responsibility.

Response From Arwa Elrayess

Responding to the criticism, Elrayess said her messages were taken from informal conversations and were not intended as formal or public statements.

She stated that her comments were aimed at discussing proportionality in conflict rather than endorsing violence.

She emphasised that she does not support breaches of international law, including the targeting of civilians, hostage-taking, or other actions she described as grave violations, regardless of which side commits them.

Elrayess also argued that her remarks were meant as a contextual analysis of long-running political and humanitarian conditions, not as an endorsement of any specific act of violence.

She further noted that part of the discussion referenced the broader regional conflict and related political developments at the time.

Wider Reactions and Calls for Action

The messages have also drawn strong responses from advocacy organisations.

Campaign groups opposing antisemitism described the comments as deeply offensive and argued that they were incompatible with holding a leadership role in a prominent student institution.

Some critics have gone further, suggesting the matter should be examined by university authorities and potentially reviewed through legal channels, citing concerns over the potential impact of such statements on campus safety and community relations.

As debate continues across the university, pressure is mounting on both the Oxford Union and the wider institution to determine whether disciplinary action or resignation is warranted, or whether the comments fall within the boundaries of protected political expression in an increasingly polarised academic environment.