KENYAN PRESIDENT ORDERS CRACKDOWN ON FOREIGNERS Kenya's President William Ruto has ordered a crackdown on foreigners operating small-scale businesses, saying local traders and hawkers need to be protected. His announcement comes amid growing debate about the increasing number of African migrants involved in Kenya's vast informal economy. "From next week, all [foreign] traders doing those small businesses should close them," he said, also promising to fast-track proposed legislation to preclude foreigners from certain areas of trade. Ruto said Kenya remained open to foreign investment, but argued that investors - including Chinese traders - should create jobs and expand production rather than compete with Kenyans in small businesses. It cannot be that a person comes from China or elsewhere to be a hawker or open a small shop," he said in an address to small-scale traders who had come to meet the president at State House in the capital, Nairobi, on Wednesday afternoon. "We have made efforts to improve the economy, we have not improved investor confidence for hawkers to come to Kenya," said Ruto, who plans to seek a second term in election next year. It is unclear how many foreign nationals are involved in small-scale trading or how many would be affected by the new crackdown. Kenya hosts a large refugee population, some of whom live and work outside the country's refugee camps. Government figures show that Kenya had about 857,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers by the end of June, with nearly 14% living in urban areas. Kenyan law recognises the right of refugees to work and operate businesses, although they are required to obtain the appropriate documentation. Refugees wishing to work or engage in a trade or business can apply for a special permit. In Nairobi and other major towns, migrants from the region can be found working in barber shops and salons, construction, operating motorbike taxis and street vending, as well as selling clothes, food and household goods. Some have fled conflicts or economic hardship at home, while others have moved to Kenya in search of better opportunities under the relatively free movement of people allowed within the East African Community, a regional bloc made up of eight countries. The growing presence of foreigners has at times caused tensions with local traders and workers who accuse them of competing for scarce jobs and business opportunities. In July, a video of a Kenyan man confronting a Burundian trader in Nairobi and accusing him of taking opportunities from locals sparked widespread criticism. The clash also prompted Fred Ngoga, an expert on regional conflict prevention from Burundi, to appeal for the protection of his country's citizens. "The majority of Kenyans are decent and good people who welcome their brothers and sisters from Burundi," he said at the time, adding that most Kenyans had rejected the hostility directed at the trader. Kenya's foreign ministry also sought to reassure Burundians and other East Africans living in the country following the incident. While Ruto's latest move is likely to prove controversial given Kenya's status as regional economic hub, it also comes amid wider concerns about xenophobia elsewhere in Africa. This year South Africa has seen a wave of protests about undocumented migrants - and tens of thousands of Africans there have opted to be repatriated voluntarily, some saying they have been the targets of intimidation and attacks. 5th September,2026

AT LEAST 37 KILLED BY TOXIC FUMES DURING ALLEGED PETROL THEFT At least 37 people have died after inhaling toxic fumes while allegedly stealing petrol from a pipeline in Nigeria's Rivers State, an environmental group in the oil-rich region says. Many are still missing after more than 100 people descended on Okari Jetty in Okrika in small boats to collect the refined fuel under cover of darkness, according to the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC). The police told the BBC an investigation was ongoing to determine the figures of those affected after people reportedly collapsed - with local reports saying some fell into the Bonny River while others were taken to hospital. Theft from pipelines has been a problem for decades in Nigeria's oil hub. Rivers is one of several states that make up the southern Niger Delta region, a vast area of swamps and wetlands with huge reserves of oil and gas along Nigeria's coast. For years, criminal groups have tapped pipelines and siphon crude oil or other petroleum products into boats and storage tanks, to be sold on the black market or taken to illegal refineries. The YEAC said its network of volunteers and human rights defenders had reported that people in Okrika had died after inhaling what it locally known as "Indorama fuel", which is a form of refined petrol known as PMS (Premium Motor Spirit). Nigeria's Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has urged the public and media to rely on verified information as they work with other security agencies to establish what happened in the early hours of Thursday morning. It condemned illegal tapping and siphoning, warning that such activities put lives, the environment and the economy at risk. Similarly, many campaigners have also blamed the practice for contributing to environmental damage. The government has stepped up operations against oil theft in recent years. On Thursday, the director of navel information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, warned thieves there was "no hiding place" from the navy, which patrols the waterways and coastal areas of the Niger Delta. "Their days are numbered, and if we catch you, of course, we'll ensure that you face the law," he said in an interview with Nigerian broadcaster Channels TV. While the Nigerian navy has increased maritime security operations, the military and other security agencies have carried out operations against oil thieves, who often hid out in the area's dense mangrove forests. Nigeria is trying to increase oil production after years of problems caused by theft, insecurity and underinvestment. The country aims to raise production to about three million barrels per day by 2030 and is relying on better security and reforms to attract new investment. 5th September,2026

THE CHANGING FACE OF FINANCIAL CRIME The next generation of financial crime in Africa may not begin with a masked robber entering a bank. It may begin with a WhatsApp message, a fraudulent investment application, a cloned voice or a mobile-money transfer sent to an account controlled from another country. Between December 2025 and January 2026, INTERPOL’s Operation Red Card 2.0 revealed the scale of this changing threat. Conducted across 16 African countries, the operation resulted in 651 arrests and uncovered online scams linked to more than US$45 million in losses. Authorities seized 2,341 devices and disrupted 1,442 malicious internet addresses, domains and servers connected to mobile-money fraud, fraudulent loan applications and high-yield investment schemes This was not simply the work of isolated scammers. It reflected organised criminal networks using digital infrastructure and multiple jurisdictions to reach victims and move illicit funds. As financial crime becomes faster, smarter and increasingly borderless, are Africa’s financial defences changing quickly enough to confront it? Traditional crimes such as fraud, money laundering and identity theft have not disappeared. What has changed is the power of technology to make these crimes faster, harder to detect and easier to carry out across borders.Banking A single criminal operation can now combine several methods. Fraudsters may use stolen personal information to create fake identities, impersonate a trusted person through an AI-generated voice and persuade victims to transfer money through mobile-money or digital-payment platforms. The funds can then be moved through multiple accounts, converted into cryptocurrency and transferred across jurisdictions within minutes. Business email compromise provides another example.Corporate & Financial Crime Criminals may gain access to a company’s email system, impersonate a senior executive or supplier and redirect legitimate payments into accounts they control. Fraudulent digital lending and investment applications can similarly appear credible while collecting personal data or channelling victims’ money into criminal networks. Legitimate businesses may also be misused to disguise illicit transactions through trade, false invoices or apparently genuine commercial payments. These activities can involve several platforms and countries, making investigations more difficult. What is new is not always the crime itself, but the speed reach and technological sophistication with which it can now be committed.News Africa’s digital success has created new vulnerabilities Africa’s digital financial transformation is a major success story. Mobile money, digital banking, fintech platforms, online lending and cross-border payments have brought millions of people into the formal financial system. Virtual assets also enable investment and transfers. The problem is not innovation itself, but the failure of safeguards to keep pace. Criminals can exploit weak customer verification, stolen SIM cards, compromised accounts, poor data protection and uneven supervision of fintech operators.Investing Africa’s financial inclusion gains must ,therefore, be protected with stronger identity checks, supervision, data security and faster fraud detection. Financial inclusion cannot be sustainable if the people entering the system do not trust that their money and identities are safe. Criminal networks moving faster Financial crime is increasingly cross-border, while regulation and enforcement remain largely national. A victim may be in Ghana, the fraudulent platform hosted elsewhere, the receiving account opened in another country and the proceeds converted into virtual assets within minutes.Crime & Justice INTERPOL’s 2025 Operation Red Card exposed this gap. In Nigeria, police arrested 130 suspects, including 113 foreign nationals, in connection with multilingual online investment and casino scams. The proceeds were allegedly converted into digital assets to disguise their movement. The case demonstrates that financial criminals are internationally organised. How prepared Is Africa? Africa is not starting from zero. Many countries have established financial intelligence units, strengthened anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws and introduced transaction-monitoring systems.Finance Digital identity and customer-verification initiatives are also improving, while regulators are paying greater attention to fintech companies and virtual assets. Joint operations involving INTERPOL, AFRIPOL and national authorities demonstrate that African institutions can respond effectively when intelligence, technology and coordination come together. Cooperation among banks, telecom companies and law-enforcement agencies is also growing. However, preparedness remains uneven across the continent. Existing laws are often weakly enforced, while investigative and digital-forensic capacity remains limited. Information exchange can be slow, and supervision is frequently fragmented across banks, fintech companies and telecom operators. Beneficial-ownership information may be incomplete or difficult to access, making it harder to identify those controlling criminal networks. Low prosecution and conviction rates, shortages of trained compliance and cybersecurity professionals, and inadequate public awareness create further vulnerabilities. The core problem is, therefore, not always the absence of laws.Corporate & Financial Crime It is the persistent gap between what those laws require and what institutions can enforce in practice. Africa’s response must become more preventive, coordinated and technologically capable. First, institutions must shift from reactive enforcement to intelligence-led prevention. Suspicious transaction reports should do more than satisfy compliance requirements. They must help financial intelligence units identify patterns, connect seemingly unrelated transactions and disrupt criminal networks before losses multiply. Second, cooperation must move faster than the criminals. Banks, fintech companies, telecom operators, cybersecurity agencies, financial intelligence units and law-enforcement bodies need secure mechanisms for sharing information quickly. Regional cooperation must also progress beyond periodic meetings towards real-time operational collaboration, particularly when funds move across several jurisdictions.Banking Third, Africa must invest in both people and technology. Regulators, compliance professionals and investigators require expertise in blockchain analysis, digital forensics, artificial intelligence, cyber investigations and cross-border payment tracing. Criminal networks should not maintain a permanent technological advantage over those pursuing them. Fourth, customers must be treated as part of the defence system. Public education should be continuous, practical and delivered through the channels people use daily. Customers must learn to recognise impersonation, phishing links, fraudulent investment offers, fake digital lenders and requests for mobile-money credentials. Finally, financial institutions must strengthen internal accountability. Insider involvement, weak controls and poor customer verification can enable sophisticated crime even where external technology appears secure. Effective protection therefore begins with strong governance, responsible staff conduct and consequences when institutions fail to safeguard customers.Ghana politics news Conclusion The continent’s rapid financial innovation must be matched by equally rapid advances in regulation, supervision, intelligence and enforcement. Institutions must continually adapt because criminals will keep exploiting new technologies, regulatory gaps and national borders. Africa’s digital financial transformation is too important to be slowed by fraud or weakened by public mistrust. 10th August,2026

THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS STILL IN CEUTA Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the Spanish territory of Ceuta following the arrival of many times that number of people last week, the north African exclave's leader has said. Juan Jesús Vivas told the European Parliament of his "profound sorrow" over the "irreparable tragedy" of 100 deaths that had occurred after roughly 78,000 migrants from neighbouring Morocco arrived by sea in a matter of hours. His comments come as new calls for mass crossings circulate on social media, according to Moroccan media The crisis has created tensions among EU nations who share open borders and has sparked criticism of the Spanish government. However the EU Commission has commended Spain's "swift response" to the crisis, which has included deploying armed forces to Ceuta and its other territory on the north African coast, Melilla. Vivas, a conservative, was critical of the national government's response while addressing the European Parliament on Thursday, saying that he had personally told Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that it had been late and insufficient. "The fact that we don't have numbers on how many are still in Ceuta shows how few resources we have to deal with this situation," Ceuta's mayor-president said. Previous warnings by local officials of an increase in migrant crossings by sea had been ignored, he said. Vivas said that while the return of nearly 75,000 migrants to Morocco had "considerably alleviated" the situation, Ceuta had not yet returned to normal There was still a humanitarian emergency and disturbances to public order in the territory, he said, while it was "basically impossible" to return the minors who had crossed because this required their consent. Spain's interior minister has said the government had allocated €25m (£21.4m; $28.8m) to assist minors in Ceuta. However, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reports that 4,860 migrant children have been registered by volunteer groups in Ceuta - double official estimates.News "Neighbours are taking them into their homes, but the situation is unsustainable," a volunteer told the paper. So far no migrant children have been moved to mainland Spain, with right-wing local authorities reluctant to take them in, according to El País. While some on the right have pointed to an agreement with Morocco stipulating co-operation on returning migrant children to their families, Melilla's conservative leader has called for a "gesture of solidarity" from his mainland colleagues.Geographic Reference It is unclear exactly why tens of thousands of migrants attempted to cross into Ceuta on Thursday and Friday last week. The EU's Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner has suggested criminal networks spreading disinformation were to blame - an assertion Sánchez has agreed with. The crossings came after Spain's Supreme Court ruled that migrants stopped at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be summarily returned to Morocco.Government The two exclaves have long been a bone of diplomatic contention between Spain and Morocco, which does not recognise Spanish sovereignty over them. The number of people swimming to Ceuta at once has raised questions about why Morocco's border guards did not attempt to stop them. Vivas characterised the incident as an "unequivocal attack". "Our people feel sad, helpless, anxious, fearful and worried - and they have good reason to, because it is inevitable to wonder whether this will happen again," he commented. Spain's interior minister has said he was working "firmly" with Morocco to avoid further "violations", and that any migrants still in Ceuta would be returned there as soon as possible.Executive Branch Brunner said the EU should use all the leverage at its disposal, including visa policy and trade, to secure co-operation from Morocco on migration. 10th August,2026

OLD DRUG 'PUSHER' AND HIS WIFE ARRESTED A 51-year-old drug dealer and his 42-year-old wife, who are said to be supplying illegal drugs in Accra, have been arrested by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC). They have been named by NACOC as Jibreel Hardi and Abiba Fatawu. They were picked up by NACOC officials in a joint operation with National Security operatives on Thursday (September 3, 2026), in an intelligence-led operation. Jibreel Hardi was on his way to meet a buyer when NACOC officials intercepted and arrested him on Thursday at about 11 am in Weija, in the Ga South Municipality of Greater Accra. Graphic Online understands that the operation followed sustained intelligence gathering over a long period by the Special Operations undercover operatives. When Jibreel Hardi was intercepted, a search conducted on his vehicle at the point of arrest led to the discovery of large quantities of dried leaves wrapped in polythene, suspected to be Indian hemp (cannabis), and packets of Tramadol. The team subsequently proceeded to Jibreel's residence, where additional quantities of the suspected Indian hemp and Tramadol were retrieved, alongside a firearm with 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition. His wife, Abiba Fatawu, was also arrested at the residence for being an accomplice and a collaborator during the surveillance. Both suspects are in NACOC custody and being processed for court and forensic examination of the exhibits retrieved. 5th September,2026

SEVEN ILLEGAL MINERS DEAD, ONE TRAPPED Seven illegal miners have been confirmed dead and one person remains trapped underground after a mining pit collapsed at Manso Keniago in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region on Thursday, September 3. Ishak Iddrisu, the NADMO Coordinator in the Manso area has confirmed. In an interview with Radio Ghana, monitored by Graphic Online, Mr Iddrisu said efforts were underway to retrieve the trapped body. The collapse reportedly occurred at about 7:00 pm while the illegal miners were reportedly working in the pit in search of gold. Reports indicate that 10 people were in the mining pit when it collapsed, but two managed to escape. Eight were trapped. Rescuers worked through the night and managed to retrieve the remains of seven of the eight miners trapped beneath the debris. Five of the deceased have reportedly been identified as residents of Manso Keniago, while the remaining two are said to be from other communities. Personnel from the Amansie South District Police Command, the Ghana National Ambulance Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation, and community volunteers are currently at the site continuing the search for the remaining miner believed to be trapped in the collapsed pit. 5th September,2026

CANNABIS TOFFEES, AND SOFT DRINKS HOOK CHILDREN CHILDREN as young as 10 are reportedly becoming severely addicted to cannabis in parts of the Volta Region as producers of the substance diversify how it is consumed. The raw cannabis is processed into toffees and assorted soft drinks and marketed to unsuspecting children, who are attracted to the products and may subsequently develop a craving for them. The Volta Regional Commander of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Mr Worlanyo Fianu, disclosed this in an interview with The Mirror on Monday. He said the disturbing trend was most evident in the Hohoe and Kpando municipalities, as well as the North Dayi, South Dayi and Afadzato South districts. A very bleak future is looming ahead of the children, and this calls for urgent and concerted efforts to address the situation,” Mr Fianu said. He, therefore, called for closer and more cordial collaboration among the various security agencies to curb the menacing trend. Mr Fianu also called on patriotic members of the public to promptly volunteer information on the activities of cannabis dealers in their communities. The cannabis syndicate in the region, he said, was making a fortune from the illicit business, with producers allegedly selling the substance to clients in Togo, Benin, Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. Meanwhile, investigations by The Mirror have revealed that cannabis seeds are increasingly being used as poultry feed, while sheep on cannabis plantations graze on the plant. The farmers, the investigations further revealed, mix bags of cannabis with charcoal before transporting them surreptitiously to urban centres, where they have ready buyers. Mr Fianu urged parents to closely monitor their children and take immediate and appropriate action if they noticed any unusual behaviour. “This time, it is not a matter of seeing your child smoking cannabis because he is only consuming toffees and soft drinks; so parents must be extra vigilant,” he added. In some boarding schools, Mr Fianu said, it was becoming a common practice for some students to lace their “shito” with granulated marijuana. Worse still, he said, those involved often invited unsuspecting schoolmates to join them in eating meals prepared with the granulated marijuana. In July this year, a team of 60 police officers from Ho reportedly raided a dense forest at Peki-Dzake in the South Dayi District and destroyed two marijuana plantations covering a total of eight acres. The police officers, armed with machetes, cut down the plants before setting fire to the heaps of marijuana using lorry tyres. 5th September,2026

PROSPECTUS INTRODUCED BY GES FOR ALL SENIOR HIGH The Ghana Education Service (GES) has released a harmonised prospectus outlining items required for students entering senior high school (SHS) for the 2026/27 academic year. The prospectus provides a standard list of items for boarding students as parents and guardians prepare their wards for school. The harmonised prospectus is expected to guide parents, guardians and students as they prepare for the 2026/27 academic year. Among the items listed for boarding students: hard body suitcase or trunk chop box (wooden/plastic) drinking cup (1 plastic or stainless) plate and a set of cutlery toiletries (1 deodorant, 1 pack T-roll, tooth paste, tooth brush, soap, pomade and 2 packs of sanitary pads for girls) decent sandals (school specific - no embellishment) a pair of leather slippers (school specific) decent sneakers (black or white) 2 pair of socks (school specific) pyjamas /sleep wear underwear (5 pants and 3 vests for girls, 3 boxer shorts or pants and 3 singlets for boys 1 plastic bucket with cover and pail RSV.NIV Bible/Quran and Hymn Book for Christians (school specific) pillow 2 students bedsheet mosquito net school bag mathematical set s with 2 pillow cases - plain white 1 blanket and sleeping cloth a pair of khaki trousers a pair of white trousers (or school specific) white dress for ladies 2 white shirts (1 short sleeves and 1 long sleeve) student's size mosquito net 1 school bag 1 mathematical set and scientific calculator 2 checked dresses (where applicable) student mattress shoe (school specific colour) belt (school specific colour) 1 hoe/cutlass med shea organic mosquito repellent The prospectus also includes items for school in categorised groups of three, from which students are to buy items from one group, Group 1 a pair of hand gloves (hard) liquid soap (5 litres) 1 kg washing powdered soap. Group 2 bleach (small size) dust pan 1 long handle broom 1 scrubbing brush Group 3 1 standing mop and mop bucket 1 duster 1 short local broom All personal items should be embossed or embroidered with the student's name For day students, the items are 1 mathematical set and scientific calculator decent sandals (school specific - no embellishment decent sneakers (black or white) 1 school bag The prospectus also includes items for school in categorised groups of three, from which students are to buy items from one group, Group 1 a pair of hand gloves (hard) liquid soap (5 litres) 1 kg washing powdered soap. Group 2 bleach (small size) dust pan 1 long handle broom 1 scrubbing brush Group 3 1 standing mop and mop bucket 1 duster 1 short local broom 5th September,2026