A new $100 levy hits Ghana flights as the government introduces an infrastructure charge to fund airport upgrades. This added cost is already being passed to travelers, making Ghana one of Africa’s most expensive aviation hubs. This push for revenue comes as Mozambique successfully clears its $701 million debt to the IMF, a move that stabilizes its economy even as its foreign reserves drop to $3.5 billion.

Beyond government debt, the private sector is seeing major moves in the consumer market. Indian billionaire Ravi Jaipuria’s Varun Beverages has finalized a $125 million deal to acquire South Africa’s Twizza, securing full control over its local production plants.

Meanwhile, in the tech world, legal AI startup Legora has reached a $100 million revenue milestone, proving that law firms are now spending big on digital tools to automate their most complex tasks.

The influence of African leaders is also expanding into global sports and local infrastructure. Masai Ujiri is joining Serena Williams as an owner of the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo, while Nigeria explores a $5 billion currency swap with the UAE's largest bank to protect its budget from rising costs. These shifts happen as Coca-Cola commits $1 billion to South Africa, aiming to scale up production and distribution across the country’s industrialized economy.

Ghana has introduced a new airport infrastructure levy that has increased airfares starting April 1. Airlines are passing these costs to passengers on domestic, regional, and international routes to fund upgrades like a new concourse and expanded parking at Kotoka Airport.

Domestic travelers now pay an extra 100 Ghanaian cedis per one-way ticket. Regional fares have gone up by $30, while international passengers face a $50 surcharge on one-way trips and $100 on return journeys. Major airlines like PassionAir have already adjusted their prices.

Industry experts warn that this move could make Ghana one of the most expensive aviation markets in Africa. The new charges might push the country from ninth to third place in continental airport fees, potentially hurting regional travel and making it less competitive.

🇲🇿 Another African country has cleared its debt to the International Monetary Fund

Mozambique has cleared its $701 million debt to the IMF, according to Standard Bank. The repayment has led to the cancellation of a scheduled IMF mission, even though official statements from the government or the lender are yet to be released.

The move is expected to see Mozambique's foreign exchange reserves drop to $3.5 billion from a near-record $4.15 billion. The country joins others like Nigeria and Namibia, which have also recently repaid or significantly reduced their outstanding IMF obligations.

🇿🇦 Indian billionaire Ravi Jaipuria’s Varun Beverages finally acquires South Africa’s Twizza in $125 million deal

Indian billionaire Ravi Jaipuria’s Varun Beverages has completed its $125 million acquisition of South Africa’s Twizza. The deal gives the company full control of manufacturing plants and distribution networks across Southern Africa, integrating them into its growing portfolio.

The move helps Varun Beverages, PepsiCo's largest bottling partner outside the US, expand its reach as Indian sales face weather challenges. Twizza will now operate under the subsidiary BevCo, and founder Ken Clark and his family will no longer retain ownership of the firm.

🇳🇬 Nigerian basketball mastermind Masai Ujiri joins Serena Williams in owning a team

Masai Ujiri, the former Toronto Raptors president, has become a principal owner of the new WNBA team, Toronto Tempo. He joins tennis legend Serena Williams in the ownership group, bringing his extensive basketball leadership and team-building experience to the franchise.

Ujiri will lead the "Tempo Rising" mentorship program to develop future women's basketball leaders. This move follows his 10-month break from the NBA, during which he focused on his family and sports infrastructure projects across Africa, including a new sports city in Rwanda.

Legal AI startup Legora hits a major revenue milestone

Legal AI startup Legora has reached $100 million in annual recurring revenue just 18 months after its public launch. This growth milestone shows that law firms are investing heavily in AI tools to change how lawyers work, leading to a new $5.55 billion valuation for the company.

The software helps lawyers analyze data rooms, compare contracts, and draft briefs faster and at a lower cost than junior lawyers. Legora now serves over 1,000 customers, including major global firms like White & Case and Linklaters, as they push to modernize the legal industry through technology.

While Legora is growing rapidly, it still trails its rival Harvey, which recently hit $200 million in revenue and an $11 billion valuation. This competition highlights a massive surge in demand for AI agents that can handle complex legal tasks and improve overall productivity in law firms.

Africa’s top 5 greatest places to stay in 2026

Africa has secured five spots on Time magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2026 list. These destinations highlight a shift toward boutique, experience-driven luxury that moves away from traditional large-scale hotels toward personalized service and immersive environments.

Source: Time Magazine

🇳🇬 Nigeria eyes UAE’s largest bank for $5 billion swap to shield economy from rising costs

Nigeria plans to borrow $5 billion from First Abu Dhabi Bank through a derivatives deal to lower its borrowing costs. This move is a response to rising global interest rates driven by international tensions, such as the war in Iran, which make traditional international loans more expensive.

The deal involves a total return swap where Nigeria provides naira-denominated securities as collateral worth 133.3% of the loan. The facility has a six-year term with competitive interest rates and allows the government to fund its expanded 2026 budget, which is 17% larger than initially planned.

Nigeria will use the funds to build critical infrastructure like roads and ports while refinancing existing debt that is currently more costly. This strategy follows similar moves by Angola and Senegal, who turned to swaps when international markets became too expensive or inaccessible.

🇿🇦 Coca-Cola to invest $1 billion in Africa's richest country through 2030

Coca-Cola and its bottlers plan to invest 17.6 billion rand ($1.05 billion) in South Africa by 2030. The announcement was made at an investment conference in Johannesburg, aligning with the country’s drive to attract 2 trillion rand in new funding.

The funds will scale up production capacity and strengthen distribution networks across the country. This move is part of an effort to accelerate innovation within the Coca-Cola system’s value chain and deepen its footprint in Africa’s most industrialized economy.

Coca-Cola has been expanding, including a $2.6 billion deal for a 75% stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa. While the expansion signals growth, it has raised some concerns regarding potential job cuts in South Africa during the necessary business restructuring phases.

Over 2,000 distinct languages are spoken across Africa. That is nearly one-third of all the world’s languages, making it the most linguistically diverse continent on the planet.