By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 27, 2026 | BUSINESS NEWS

Aliko Dangote is expanding his investments in East Africa through a major petroleum infrastructure partnership.

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has joined forces with Ethiopia and Djibouti to develop a $660 million petroleum pipeline designed to improve fuel transportation, strengthen energy security and expand economic cooperation in the Horn of Africa.

The project, announced on September 24, 2026, involves a partnership between Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings. It will connect the port of Damerjog in Djibouti to Dewele in Ethiopia through a 120-kilometre pipeline.

Aliko Dangote is expanding his investments in East Africa through a major petroleum infrastructure partnership.

A New Route for Ethiopia’s Fuel Imports

The planned pipeline will transport refined petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and aviation fuel, into Ethiopia.

As a landlocked country, Ethiopia depends heavily on Djibouti’s ports for international trade and petroleum imports. Much of its fuel currently travels by road, creating transportation costs and logistical challenges.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the new infrastructure is intended to reduce delivery delays and strengthen the country’s fuel supply network.

The project also includes substantial storage facilities at both ends of the pipeline. Developers are targeting operations within 18 months, although the completion date remains subject to construction progress.

Petroleum storage and port infrastructure in Djibouti

Economic Opportunities for Both Countries

The investment is expected to support economic activity in both countries.

For Ethiopia, the pipeline could reduce dependence on long-distance tanker transportation and improve fuel availability for manufacturing, agriculture, aviation and construction.

Djibouti could benefit from increased port activity, additional employment opportunities and greater demand for logistics services.

At the project’s groundbreaking ceremony, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh welcomed the investment as part of the country’s efforts to expand its position as a regional logistics and energy hub.

Fuel transportation by road in East Africa

Dangote Expands His African Energy Investments

The Ethiopia–Djibouti pipeline represents another step in Dangote Group’s expansion beyond Nigeria.

The conglomerate operates a major petroleum refinery near Lagos and has interests in cement, fertilisers, manufacturing and other industrial sectors.

Dangote said the new pipeline is intended to improve supply-chain efficiency while creating long-term economic value for Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Dangote’s petroleum refinery in Nigeria

What Happens Next?

Although the groundbreaking ceremony has taken place, the project must still progress through construction before it can begin commercial operations.

Its eventual impact will depend on timely completion, operating capacity, transport costs and the effectiveness of connections to Ethiopia’s wider distribution network.

If successfully delivered, the pipeline could become an important part of the region’s petroleum supply infrastructure and deepen commercial ties between Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited (CBG) has launched a dedicated loan initiative for persons with disabilities (PWDs), aimed at expanding their access to finance and enabling them to participate more meaningfully in Ghana’s formal financial system.

The CBG PWD Inclusion Loan Initiative, unveiled at the Bank’s Disability Conference at the Du Bois Centre in Cantonments, represents a shift in the Bank’s approach to financial inclusion—from simply providing access to banking services to creating responsible pathways to credit for viable PWD-owned businesses.

Speaking at the launch, Managing Director of CBG, Dr Naomi Wolali Kwetey, said financial inclusion must go beyond opening bank accounts to creating opportunities for people to convert their potential into sustainable economic participation.

She noted that PWDs are entrepreneurs, employers, producers, professionals and customers whose ambitions are no different from those of other business owners.

However, she acknowledged that conventional financial products can sometimes fail to adequately address the barriers faced by entrepreneurs operating outside the formal financial system.

“The CBG PWD Inclusion Loan Initiative is our response to that gap,” Dr Kwetey said.

According to her, the initiative moves CBG’s commitment beyond account opening and financial literacy to responsible access to credit, while recognising beneficiaries as capable economic partners.

Importantly, the facilities being offered under the programme are loans, not grants.

Dr Kwetey explained that this distinction is deliberate because it places beneficiaries within the formal credit system while promoting financial responsibility and accountability.

She said CBG had adopted an approach of “inclusion with discipline”, combining concessionary pricing with carefully considered exceptions to requirements that could unnecessarily exclude viable informal businesses.

At the same time, the Bank will maintain sound credit appraisal, transparency, responsible lending and accountability.

“This balance matters. Inclusion without sustainability will not endure, and credit without responsibility will not empower,” she said.

The initiative builds on CBG’s earlier PWD Financial Inclusion Programme, under which 119 participants were onboarded. The Bank funded the minimum opening balances for the participants and granted approved service-fee waivers to help remove some of the initial barriers to formal banking.

The new initiative brings together financial literacy, concessionary finance and sustained business support, creating a dedicated pathway to credit for PWD entrepreneurs and viable micro-enterprises.

Dr Kwetey said CBG’s ambition extends beyond the initial beneficiaries, with plans to deepen partnerships and expand responsible access to finance for PWD-owned businesses across Ghana.

She said the success of the programme would not be measured simply by the number of loans disbursed, but by the resilience and growth of beneficiaries’ businesses, the quality of their banking relationships, responsible repayment and their confidence in engaging with the formal financial system.

“Our ambition goes beyond the beneficiaries gathered here. We intend to deepen partnerships and expand responsible access to finance for PWD-owned businesses across Ghana,” she said.

The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Korklu Foundation, which has been supporting efforts to promote economic empowerment and inclusion for persons with disabilities.

Founder of the Korklu Foundation, Dorcas Naa Korklu Afotey, urged beneficiaries to use the loans responsibly to strengthen and expand their businesses, improve their livelihoods and contribute to their families and communities.

She stressed that disability should not be a barrier to economic opportunity and commended CBG for adopting a more inclusive approach to financing.

Dr Kwetey also encouraged the beneficiaries to see the initiative as an opportunity to build sustainable enterprises and strengthen their participation in the formal economy.

“To our beneficiaries, CBG sees your potential and respects your enterprise. The opportunity before you is not defined by disability. It is defined by what you can build when ability, finance and commitment come together,” she said.

CBG said the initiative will also lay the foundation for a specialised credit proposition for PWD entrepreneurs as the Bank works to develop accessible, commercially responsible, and sustainable financing solutions.

The Bank’s Managing Director said the initiative was not simply another loan product but part of a broader effort to strengthen CBG’s capacity to serve customers who have historically remained outside formal finance.

Accra, Ghana — September 22, 2026: Ghanaian audiologist and hearing-health advocate Rev. Dr. Christian Kwetey Kweitsu, Chief Executive Officer of KRISPAT Hearing Centre Ghana Ltd, is set to receive international recognition at the 3rd Edition of the 100 Most Influential Persons Awards – Africa, scheduled for September 25, 2026, at the M Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda.

African Influential Persons Awards Poster

The event is being presented as a gathering of African leaders, business personalities and changemakers. Public information about the event identifies The Business Executive Ghana, International Business Council Africa and African Chamber for Trade among the organisations behind the awards.

Krispat Hearing Centre Ghana Ltd – Tema – Contact Number, Email Address – 3 Reviews

Recognition for hearing-health work

According to information provided for the recognition, Dr. Kweitsu is being acknowledged for his work in hearing healthcare and his contribution to improving access to services for people experiencing hearing challenges in Ghana and beyond.

Public professional profiles identify Kweitsu as the CEO of KRISPAT Hearing Centre Ghana Ltd and an audiologist specialising in hearing healthcare and hearing aids. His professional profile states that he has more than two decades of experience in the field.

KRISPAT’s services include hearing assessments, hearing-aid services and hearing-conservation programmes. A business listing for its Tema branch also identifies Kweitsu as the company’s manager and describes services including hearing tests, digital hearing aids, industrial hearing conservation and general ear and hearing care.

Denílson Monteiro entre os “100 Jovens Mais Influentes” em África | Skutam

Author of hearing-health book

Beyond clinical practice, Kweitsu has also worked on public education around hearing loss and hearing aids.

His professional profile lists the 2025 publication “Amplifying Life: A Comprehensive Guide to Hearing Aids – Understanding, Choosing and Caring.” The book is presented as a practical guide covering hearing loss, hearing-aid options, selection and care, while also addressing the experiences of people living with hearing challenges.

Kweitsu has also been involved in academic research. The University of Ghana repository lists his 2020 research work, Attitudes Towards the Use of Hearing Aids Among Hearing Impaired Population in Accra, Ghana, conducted through the Department of Audiology, Speech and Language Therapy.

M Hotel Kigali Rwanda – Turkana Wildlife Safaris

Continuing advocacy

His professional activities have included hearing-health outreach and education. A March 2026 outreach programme associated with KRISPAT Hearing Centre involved hearing-health screening and education at the Regworld Training Center in the Western Region, according to a professional post shared on his LinkedIn profile.

The upcoming Kigali recognition therefore comes as another international platform for highlighting work in a healthcare area that often receives less public attention.

Message to Ghanaians

Reacting to the recognition, Rev. Dr. Kweitsu expressed appreciation for being named among Africa’s influential personalities and encouraged Ghanaians to continue contributing to national development, regardless of how small their individual efforts may appear.

He stressed the importance of perseverance and service to society, expressing the view that sustained contributions to Ghana and humanity can eventually receive recognition.

The 100 Most Influential Persons Awards – Africa is scheduled for September 25, 2026, at M Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda. An event announcement published by IGIHE confirms the date, venue and participation of African leaders, changemakers and business personalities.

For Kweitsu, the Kigali event is expected to provide an international platform to spotlight Ghanaian contributions to hearing healthcare and the wider effort to improve awareness, prevention and support for people living with hearing challenges.

By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | Technology & Business Report

A launch day marked by a labor dispute

Apple’s latest iPhone launch in Italy coincided with a nationwide walkout by Apple retail employees, putting a labor dispute alongside one of the company’s biggest annual retail events.

On 18 September 2026, workers at Apple Retail Italia stores staged a full-shift strike over working conditions. The action was organized by Filcams CGIL, Fisascat CISL and Uiltucs and coincided with the Italian launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Reuters reported that the action concerned more than 1,600 employees across 17 Apple stores.

What workers are asking for

The unions say the dispute centers primarily on staffing, workloads and employment arrangements.

Among their demands are:

• Additional permanent hiring
• Conversion of some fixed-term contracts into permanent positions
• The opportunity for part-time employees to voluntarily increase their working hours
• Adequate staffing levels for individual stores
• Changes to working arrangements and job responsibilities

Union representatives have also complained about increasing workloads and what they describe as greater overlap between employees’ responsibilities. According to the unions, new procedures and productivity requirements have added pressure to store personnel.

Fisascat CISL reported an average strike participation rate of 70%, with some locations reaching higher levels. That figure is a union-reported estimate rather than an independently verified participation figure.

Aperto l’Apple Store a Milano, centinaia in fila – Corriere.it

Why launch day was significant

The timing was deliberate.

The iPhone 18 Pro went on sale worldwide on 18 September, generating queues at Apple stores in several countries. In Milan, however, customers arriving for the new device encountered demonstrations by Apple retail workers outside the company’s prominent glass-cube store.

Reuters footage showed employees using flags, whistles and rattlers during the demonstration while customers queued nearby. A union representative told Reuters that the iPhone launch was chosen because of its importance to Apple’s public image.

The result was an unusual contrast: customers arriving to celebrate a major technology launch while employees were using the same event to highlight an unresolved workplace dispute.

Neuer Apple-Flagship-Store in Mailand: Springbrunnen-Eingang und verändertes Innen-Layout | News | MacTechNews.de

Apple’s response

Apple said its Italian retail and online stores remained open during the strike and that it was prepared to welcome customers.

The company also defended its employee compensation and benefits, pointing to medical, dental and vision coverage as well as mental-health and wellness support.

This provides an important distinction in the dispute: the unions’ assessment of working conditions and Apple’s description of its employment package are different perspectives, and neither should be treated as an independently established conclusion about the overall quality of employment without further evidence.

El éxito supera a la producción: más de un mes de espera para conseguir el nuevo iPhone

What happened inside the stores?

Available reporting indicates that the stores continued operating despite the industrial action. Reuters reported that Apple said its outlets would operate normally. At the same time, pickets were organized outside selected stores, including Apple’s flagship location in central Milan.

The strike therefore did not amount to a nationwide closure of Apple’s Italian retail network. Rather, employees withheld their labor while Apple maintained retail operations.

The dispute goes beyond the iPhone

The disagreement is part of a broader negotiation between Apple Retail Italia and employee representatives.

According to Fisascat CISL, discussions have included staffing levels, contract arrangements, working hours and the organization of store duties. The union says an earlier meeting on 29 July 2026 did not produce agreement on its proposed structural staffing measures.

ANSA likewise reported union concerns about staffing shortages, heavier workloads and pressure surrounding hourly productivity.

The commercial backdrop

The labor dispute occurred as Apple launched its latest premium iPhone generation.

Reuters reported that the iPhone 18 Pro starts at €1,489 in Italy. The launch also comes ahead of Apple’s planned release of its Duo foldable smartphone, scheduled for 23 October, which unions say could create another period of heightened activity for retail employees.

The bigger picture

The Italian walkout illustrates how major product launches can become important moments in labor negotiations. For Apple, launch day is designed around customer attention, retail activity and global publicity. For the unions, the same visibility provided an opportunity to put employment concerns before the public.

The immediate effect appears to have been limited: Apple’s stores remained open, while demonstrations took place outside several locations. But the underlying negotiations remain unresolved, according to the unions, and further industrial action could follow.

Bottom line: The 18 September walkout was not a protest against the iPhone 18 Pro itself. It was a labor dispute involving Apple retail employees, centered on staffing, contracts, working hours and workload, and deliberately timed to coincide with one of Apple’s highest-profile retail days of the year.

Fuel prices in Ghana could remain elevated even if some of the geopolitical tensions affecting the international oil market subside, the Executive Director of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, has warned.

Mr Amoah said the factors influencing fuel prices extend beyond geopolitical developments, pointing to rising global demand, increased premiums and high logistics costs as key pressures that could keep prices at the pumps high.

His comments follow another increase in petroleum prices in Ghana under the latest pricing window, which took effect on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) subsequently set the minimum price of petrol at GH¢16.00 per litre, while diesel was priced at GH¢16.77 per litre.

Speaking on JoyNews, Duncan Amoah explained that Ghana’s fuel pricing situation was being influenced by several international market factors.

He said even if geopolitical tensions ease, consumers could still experience high prices because of the rising cost of premiums and logistics involved in bringing petroleum products into the country.

He also warned that increased demand for diesel during the winter period could add further pressure to the international petroleum market.

According to him, this combination of factors means fuel prices may not fall immediately simply because geopolitical tensions begin to ease.

Mr Amoah has meanwhile called for greater attention to domestic refining as a means of reducing some of the costs associated with importing refined petroleum products.

He argued that increased local refining could help Ghana avoid some of the additional costs incurred when finished petroleum products are imported at higher premiums.

He said strengthening the country’s domestic refining capacity would also reduce Ghana’s exposure to some of the costs associated with purchasing refined petroleum products from the international market.

His comments come as motorists and other consumers continue to face changes in fuel prices linked to developments in both the domestic and international petroleum markets.