By Abena Dekyiwah Agyekum Nyarko Victimised by circumstance and soaked in desolation, the street child is confronted with more problems than they can handle. These innocent children are left to suffer the consequences of their parents' irresponsible decisions or the unjustifiable sting of societal wickedness. Whether the child of unconcerned parents, the result of an unplanned pregnancy, an orphan, or an overstimulated, adventure-hungry prodigal son—all these characters are exposed to the hostilities of the streets, attacked by the depravity and immorality found there, robbed of their potential and have their ambitions crushed. The average street child has access to neither a constant supply of daily bread nor a permanent roof over their head. On good days—when they manage to steal enough, when parents have something to spare, or when a philanthropist steps in—the street child may have enough to eat. On bad days, like when a flood strikes their shelter (typically kiosks, under br...
Jibran Qureishi, Head, Africa Regions Economics Research, Standard Bank Ghana faces mounting external headwinds from elevated oil prices and surging shipping costs triggered by Middle East geopolitical tensions. Standard Bank has sharply revised downward its current account surplus projection for 2026, slashing the forecast by approximately $1 billion, primarily driven by soaring petroleum import costs. The revisions underscore the vulnerability of Africa's largest gold producer to global energy market shocks. As a net oil importer, Ghana faces significant headwinds from elevated energy prices. At an oil price of $65 per barrel, petroleum imports account for approximately 29% of total goods imports, a proportion that rises sharply at higher price levels like $90-95 per barrel. Standard Bank analyst Jibran Qureishi spoke about the impact of the crisis. He said, “We still import a lot more oil than we export. This has prompted us to re-look at our current account surplus position. W...