CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA — Apple is expected to take a major step into the foldable smartphone market as it prepares to unveil its latest iPhone lineup, with the company’s new chief executive, John Ternus, set to lead his first major product launch.

The September 9 event could mark one of the biggest changes to Apple’s flagship smartphone in years, with the company widely expected to introduce its first-ever foldable iPhone. The anticipated device would represent Apple’s entry into a category already occupied by rivals including Samsung, Google and Motorola.

The launch is particularly significant because it comes just days after Ternus officially succeeded Tim Cook as Apple’s CEO. Ternus, who previously served as Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, became chief executive on September 1.

A NEW ERA FOR THE IPHONE

Reports suggest the anticipated foldable iPhone could open like a book or passport, providing users with a substantially larger display while remaining compact when closed.

Some reports have suggested a price of more than $2,000, potentially making it one of Apple’s most expensive smartphones. However, Apple has not publicly confirmed the device’s name, specifications or price ahead of the launch.

Apple’s decision to enter the foldable market comes years after competitors introduced their own devices. Analysts believe the company’s late arrival could work to its advantage, allowing Apple to learn from the durability, hinge and display problems that have affected earlier foldable smartphones.

HIGH STAKES FOR TERNUS

For Ternus, the event represents his first major public test as Apple’s chief executive.

Having spent much of his career overseeing Apple’s hardware development, Ternus now faces the challenge of convincing consumers that Apple’s version of the foldable smartphone is worth its expected premium price.

The company is also expected to introduce new premium iPhone models alongside other products, making the event an important moment for Apple’s hardware business.

APPLE’S FOLDABLE GAMBLE

Foldable smartphones remain a relatively small segment of the overall mobile phone market, despite years of investment by competing manufacturers.

Apple’s entry could nevertheless change the industry’s direction. Analysts believe the company’s enormous customer base and influence over smartphone design could help push foldable technology further into the mainstream.

For now, however, the foldable iPhone remains an expected announcement rather than a confirmed product until Apple officially takes the stage.

If unveiled, the device could mark one of the most important changes to the iPhone since the introduction of the iPhone X — and provide the first major statement about the future of Apple under John Ternus.

The Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE) has put 48 previously non-operational Aayalolo buses back into service following repairs, increasing the number of buses currently operating across the Greater Accra Region to 128.

The repaired buses have been assigned to major routes in Accra as GAPTE intensifies efforts to improve public transportation, enhance commuter mobility and reduce the pressure caused by traffic congestion in the capital.

GAPTE Managing Director, Awudu Dawuda, disclosed the development when the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, paid a working visit to the Aayalolo terminal at Madina.

The visit was aimed at assessing the performance of the Aayalolo transport system and identifying ways to strengthen its operations and make public transportation more reliable and efficient for commuters.

According to Dawuda, expanding the number of buses available for daily operations has been one of GAPTE’s major priorities, particularly as the organisation seeks to improve movement within the Greater Accra Region and contribute to efforts to tackle persistent traffic congestion.

He explained that GAPTE initially took over 80 operational buses but embarked on a repair programme to restore additional vehicles that had been grounded.

Dawuda said the repair of the 48 buses has allowed GAPTE to add them to the existing fleet, bringing the total number of operational buses on its routes to 128.

He explained that the figure represents buses currently serving the various routes, or “corridors,” operated by GAPTE across the region.

Dawuda said the decision to restore the buses was largely driven by the need to increase the availability of public transport and make commuting within Greater Accra easier for residents.

The Government has opened a self-placement opportunity for 53,887 candidates who obtained Grade 9 in English Language, Mathematics, or both subjects in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), reversing an earlier position that would have kept thousands of affected candidates out of second-cycle education.

The announcement was made on Monday, September 7, 2026, by the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, at a press conference in Accra.

According to Dr Apaak, candidates who scored Grade 9 in either English Language or Mathematics, as well as those who obtained Grade 9 in both subjects, will now be allowed to participate in the self-placement exercise.

Addressing the affected candidates, Dr Apaak said:

“To candidates who obtained a score of nine in English Language or Mathematics or in both subjects, the government is providing you with an opportunity to participate in the self-placement. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity and continue your education journey.”

The decision follows growing concerns over the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) and its initial interpretation of the requirements for placement into Senior High Schools (SHS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

Before the Government’s latest announcement, CSSPS Coordinator Sherif Sulemana disclosed on Joy FM on September 3, 2026, that approximately 565,000 of the 620,243 candidates who sat the examination had qualified for placement.

He indicated that about 55,000 candidates would not be placed because of their performance in English Language or Mathematics.

The disclosure generated significant concern among parents, candidates and education stakeholders, particularly because the interpretation appeared to represent a departure from the understanding that had existed since the introduction of the Free SHS policy in 2017.

Under the previous understanding, candidates who passed at least one of the two subjects could still obtain access to second-cycle education.

The new interpretation therefore raised questions about whether students who had already sat the 2026 BECE should be subjected to a placement requirement that had not been clearly communicated to them before the examination.

An earlier analysis of the issue estimated that 54,985 candidates, representing about 8.9 per cent of the 2026 BECE cohort, could have been denied access to secondary education under the initial interpretation.

That figure was described as a significant increase compared with the estimated 1.6 per cent to 2.2 per cent of candidates who were unable to transition to second-cycle education between 2022 and 2025.

The concern was therefore not only about individual candidates but also about the potential impact of the policy on access to education across the country.

Questions were also raised about the decision to apply the requirement retrospectively.

The argument was that if candidates were expected to meet a new interpretation of the placement criteria, they should have been officially informed before writing the 2026 BECE.

Reference was made to Articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution, as well as the doctrine of legitimate expectation, in raising concerns about fairness and administrative decision-making.

The decision to allow the affected candidates to participate in self-placement has since been welcomed as a response to the concerns raised by stakeholders.

The move means that thousands of young people who were previously facing uncertainty over their educational future now have an opportunity to seek available vacancies in SHS and TVET institutions.

However, while the self-placement opportunity has provided immediate relief, questions remain about how the Government intends to address the academic weaknesses of candidates who enter second-cycle education after failing English Language or Mathematics.

One of the major concerns is the absence of a clearly announced compulsory remedial programme for the affected candidates.

If a student obtains Grade 9 in Mathematics but is subsequently admitted to SHS or TVET through self-placement, questions arise about how that student will overcome the weakness during the next three years.

There are also concerns about whether students could eventually proceed to sit the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) or the CTVET Certificate II examination without adequately addressing the foundational problems that contributed to their BECE results.

This has led to calls for the Government to accompany the self-placement policy with a structured academic intervention.

One proposal is for Ghana to formally introduce a Conditional Placement Policy.

Under such a policy, candidates who fail either English Language or Mathematics but are admitted through self-placement would not simply be placed in school without additional support.

Instead, they would be required to participate in compulsory remedial classes in the subject they failed.

The proposed classes could be organised through an enhanced second-cycle school academic intervention programme, specifically designed to help students close the learning gaps identified at the BECE level.

A second proposal has been made for candidates who fail both English Language and Mathematics.

Under the proposal, the Government should pilot a one-year Pre-SHS/TVET Foundation Programme at the district level.

The programme would focus primarily on literacy and numeracy, allowing students to strengthen their basic academic skills before proceeding into the mainstream second-cycle education system.

After completing the foundation programme, affected students could resit the relevant subjects and, upon passing at least one of the two core subjects, progress into second-cycle education.

The argument supporting the remedial proposals is that the Free SHS/TVET policy introduced in 2017 was designed to expand educational access rather than exclude young people from second-cycle education.

If a child reaches the end of nine years of basic education without being able to pass English Language or Mathematics, the education system should also examine what happened during those nine years.

The problem, according to the argument, should not simply be placed on the student at the point of transition.

Among the factors that may contribute to poor learning outcomes are very large class sizes, which can make individualised attention difficult for teachers.

Large classrooms can also make it harder for teachers to identify individual learning difficulties and provide targeted assistance to students who are struggling.

The self-placement decision has also been described as an intervention that goes beyond education.

By allowing thousands of approximately 15-year-old candidates to remain in school, the Government may be reducing their exposure to a number of social and economic vulnerabilities associated with being out of school.

These include illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey; street hawking; okada riding; teenage pregnancy and early parenthood; child labour; drug abuse; truancy; and other forms of juvenile delinquency.

Keeping these young people within the formal education system can therefore be viewed not only as an educational intervention but also as a social protection and national security measure.

The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, Deputy Minister Dr Clement Apaak, and the CSSPS Secretariat have been commended for responding to the concerns and creating the self-placement opportunity.

The Government has also gone beyond the earlier position that would have focused only on candidates who passed one of the two subjects.

Under the new arrangement, candidates who obtained Grade 9 in both English Language and Mathematics are also being allowed to participate in self-placement.

However, the call remains for the Government to go one step further by developing and publishing a clear, written remedial pathway for the affected students.

The argument is that providing access to school should be followed by measures that ensure the students receive the academic support needed to succeed once they are admitted.

How the affected candidates can access self-placement

Candidates eligible for the self-placement exercise have been directed to follow these steps:

1. Visit the CSSPS website:
Go to www.cssps.gov.gh or cssps.org.gh.

2. Select the Self-Placement Module:
Click on the Self-Placement Module on the website.

3. Enter the Index Number:
Candidates should enter their 10-digit Index Number together with the examination year. An example given is 123456789026.

4. Check available schools:
The system will display schools with available vacancies.

5. Select preferred options:
Candidates should select their preferred Region, School, Residential Status (Day or Boarding), and Programme.

6. Review the available choices:
The system will display the available options, and candidates are advised to consider their choices carefully before proceeding.

7. Confirm the placement:
After making a selection, click Confirm and print the placement form.

8. Report to the school:
Candidates should proceed to the selected school to complete the admission process.

Parents and candidates have also been cautioned not to pay money to middlemen or individuals claiming they can secure placement, since the self-placement exercise is free.

The Government’s decision has therefore provided a significant lifeline to the tens of thousands of BECE candidates who faced possible exclusion from second-cycle education. The immediate challenge, however, is ensuring that those admitted through self-placement receive adequate academic intervention so that weaknesses in English Language and Mathematics do not continue to affect their progress through SHS and TVET.

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Dr Abdul-Baasit Aziz-Bamba, a Harvard-trained lawyer and academic, as the Acting Director-General of the newly established Value for Money Office.

The appointment was announced on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in a statement issued by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP.

Dr Aziz-Bamba’s appointment was made pursuant to Article 195(1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 14(1) of the Value for Money Office Act, 2026 (Act 1172).

The new Acting Director-General will serve in the position pending receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the Governing Board, which is to be given in consultation with the Public Services Commission.

The appointment represents a key step in establishing the Value for Money Office as an operational institution responsible for strengthening oversight of government expenditure.

Before his appointment, Dr Aziz-Bamba served as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law.

He is a Harvard-trained lawyer with more than 16 years of experience in legal practice and consulting. He is also the founder and Managing Partner of Azizbamba & Associates and has been described by the Presidency as a prominent legal mind and public policy consultant.

His transition from academia and legal practice to the leadership of the Value for Money Office comes as the government seeks to strengthen mechanisms for ensuring that public resources are used efficiently.

The Value for Money Office was established under the Value for Money Office Act, 2026 (Act 1172), which was signed into law by President Mahama in May 2026.

The legislation gives the office a mandate to promote prudent public spending, curb financial waste and ensure that government expenditure generates tangible socio-economic benefits for the public.

The Presidency says the office is intended to ensure that every cedi of public expenditure serves the public good.

Its work is expected to include stronger scrutiny of public spending, identifying and curbing waste, and helping ensure that government projects and programmed deliver measurable benefits to Ghanaians.

The Presidency described Dr Aziz-Bamba’s appointment as an important step towards operationalizing the Value for Money Office.

The government expects the institution to strengthen scrutiny of public expenditure and improve accountability in the use of state resources.

The appointment also comes amid broader efforts by the Mahama administration to improve efficiency and value in government spending, with the new office expected to provide an additional institutional mechanism for examining whether public expenditure is achieving its intended results.

Dr Aziz-Bamba will therefore take charge of the office in an acting capacity while the required constitutional process involving the Governing Board and Public Services Commission is completed. The Presidency,

The appointment was signed off by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister of Government Communications.

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has vowed to take decisive measures after Iran-aligned Houthi forces launched a wave of attacks on several cities and energy facilities in the kingdom, sharply escalating tensions across the Middle East.

The attacks on Tuesday targeted parts of southern Saudi Arabia, including Abha, Jazan, Najran and Khamis Mushait, according to Saudi authorities. Energy installations were among the sites hit, with fires reported at several locations.

Saudi officials said at least 73 people were injured, including women and children. Some energy operations were temporarily halted as emergency teams worked to contain the fires and assess the damage.

SAUDI ARABIA PROMISES ACTION

Saudi authorities described the attacks as a dangerous escalation and said all necessary operational measures would be taken to protect energy facilities, workers and the country’s infrastructure.

A spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said the coalition would take measures to deter the group and confront what it described as hostile activity.

The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying they used missiles and drones against Saudi military and energy-related targets. The group presented the operation as retaliation for Saudi-backed military activity in Yemen.

ENERGY MARKETS REACT

The attacks have also raised fresh concerns about global energy supplies because Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest oil producers.

Oil prices climbed sharply following news of the strikes, with Brent crude approaching $98 per barrel on Tuesday. Prices moved even higher early Wednesday as investors assessed the possibility of prolonged disruptions to Middle Eastern energy supplies.

Analysts warn that continued attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure could have consequences far beyond the region, particularly as shipping and oil supplies are already under pressure because of wider conflict around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

TENSIONS THREATEN TO SPREAD

The latest attacks come amid a broader escalation involving Iran, the United States and their regional allies.

The Houthis have increasingly become involved in the wider conflict, targeting Saudi Arabia and previously disrupting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Their renewed attacks risk reopening a much larger confrontation between the group and Saudi Arabia after years of relative calm following a 2022 ceasefire.

With Saudi Arabia now promising a firm response, concerns are growing that further military action could trigger another cycle of attacks across Yemen and the Gulf.

For now, attention remains focused on whether Saudi Arabia will launch retaliatory operations and whether the latest escalation will further disrupt regional energy supplies and global oil markets.