The government of Ghana has announced plans to remove several fuel-related taxes and levies in a bid to ease pressure on consumers facing rising petrol prices driven by global oil market disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict involving Iran.

A spokesperson for the government, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, confirmed that the tax cuts will take effect within a week. The decision follows sharp increases in fuel prices that have placed additional strain on households and transport operators across the country.

The government said the specific taxes and levies to be removed are still under review and will be finalized after consultations with industry stakeholders. Officials added that the suspension is expected to last for an initial period of four weeks before being reassessed depending on global market conditions.

Ghana, which imports about 70% of its refined petroleum products, has been heavily affected by the recent spike in global oil prices. The increases have been linked to geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions stemming from the ongoing Iran-related conflict in the Middle East.

According to the National Petroleum Authority, petrol prices rose by around 15% in early April, reaching approximately 13.30 cedis per litre, while diesel prices increased by nearly 19% to about 17.10 cedis per litre. These hikes have significantly impacted transport costs and general inflation in the country.

Authorities in Accra stated that the recent surge in fuel prices is primarily due to external factors rather than domestic policy decisions. Officials specifically pointed to the Iran conflict as the key driver behind the volatility in global crude oil markets.

The government has emphasized that it is working to shield citizens from the worst effects of international energy shocks while maintaining fiscal stability. However, it acknowledged that continued global instability could make sustained relief measures difficult.

In addition to tax cuts, the government has instructed the transport ministry to accelerate the rollout of newly acquired Metro Mass Transit buses along major commuter routes.

The buses are expected to operate at lower fares than private transport operators, providing an affordable alternative for commuters affected by rising fuel costs. Authorities say the measure is aimed at reducing the immediate economic burden on urban and peri-urban residents.

Ghana’s decision to suspend fuel taxes highlights the growing pressure African economies face from global energy shocks. As international conflicts continue to influence oil prices, governments across the continent are increasingly forced to balance fiscal policy with urgent cost-of-living relief measures for citizens.

Dozens of people have died and tens of thousands have been affected after torrential rains caused severe flooding in Angola, the BBC reports. The disaster, which began over the weekend, has overwhelmed rivers and drainage systems in multiple provinces, submerging homes, cutting off roads and disrupting infrastructure across the country.

According to emergency services and civil protection authorities, at least 29 people have been confirmed dead in the capital province of Luanda and the coastal province of Benguela, where the downpours were most intense. In Luanda alone, six people lost their lives and one was reported missing, while Benguela accounted for the majority of fatalities, with 23 deaths recorded. Local broadcaster Radio Solidária later reported additional fatalities in Cuanza‑Sul province, raising the toll further.

More than 34,000 people are estimated to have been affected by the flooding, with thousands forced from their homes after waters surged through residential areas. Floodwaters damaged roads and key infrastructure, including bridges, and caused trees and utility poles to fall, hampering early rescue and relief operations. In one incident, a bridge pillar over the Hâlo River collapsed, disrupting traffic between Benguela and Huambo provinces.

President João Lourenço has expressed his condolences to affected families, describing the situation as a “race against the clock” to find survivors, evacuate residents, and provide medical care to the injured. State agencies, including the Civil Protection and Fire Service, are coordinating search and rescue missions and distributing emergency aid, including food and clean water, to flood‑hit communities.

Flooding of this scale is common during Angola’s rainy season, which typically runs from October to May. However, authorities and weather experts say that unusually heavy rainfall in recent years, influenced by broader climate trends, has increased the frequency and intensity of such events, placing greater strain on river basins and urban drainage systems.

The disaster echoes past years in which severe storms have led to widespread disruption and loss of life in Angola and other parts of southern Africa, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events during peak rainfall periods.

Gambia has taken a decisive step toward justice for victims of former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year regime by appointing British barrister Martin Hackett as the country’s first special prosecutor to handle cases of human rights abuses committed during Jammeh’s rule.

Hackett will lead a newly established office tasked with prosecuting individuals responsible for widespread repression, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances that marked Jammeh’s tenure, which ended when he went into exile in 2017.

Truth Commission Findings Drive Action

The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), created to document Jammeh-era abuses, submitted its final report to current President Adama Barrow in 2021. The commission identified the most responsible perpetrators and recommended their prosecution, while also calling for reparations to be paid to victims.

While the TRRC has begun phased compensation payments — starting with victims targeted shortly after Jammeh’s 1994 coup — many survivors have emphasized that accountability and justice remain their top priority. Among the most notorious cases highlighted by the commission were the 2004 assassination of journalist Deyda Hydara and the killing of over 50 primarily West African migrants falsely accused of plotting a coup.

International Precedent and Domestic Accountability

Some perpetrators have already faced justice abroad under universal jurisdiction, with former members of Jammeh’s paramilitary unit, known as “the Junglers,” imprisoned in Germany and the United States.

Hackett, who previously served at the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon and investigated war crimes in Kosovo, brings extensive experience in prosecuting high-profile human rights cases. His appointment, with a four-year mandate, was confirmed by Attorney General Dawda Jallow, who noted Hackett was selected from a wide pool of international candidates.

Jammeh’s Exile and Legacy

Jammeh, now 60, refused to cooperate with the TRRC and only relinquished power after regional leaders intervened with military pressure following his unexpected defeat in the 2016 presidential election. He is currently believed to reside in exile in Equatorial Guinea and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

The appointment of Hackett marks a major step toward domestic accountability, signaling The Gambia’s determination to confront past abuses and ensure that impunity does not endure.