The economic downturn: What’s the last year been like for you?

Will sub-Saharan Africa prosper?

A piece in the Financial Times this week says that the focus on the bad news stories in Africa is distracting from more positive developments across the continent. Francis Beddington says a combination of economic stability, new technology and the African entrepreneurial spirit is fuelling economic growth and creating a business environment ripe for investment.

Do women need positive discrimination?

Yes, says the Norwegian government which has a law insisting that 40 per cent of company directors must be female. And this is isn’t just about equality – it argues that the economy will benefit as well.

Live from Ghana: Do Africans need to ‘revolutionise their minds’?

We were up early this morning to appear on Skyy Power FM in Takoradi ahead of today’s show from Ghana. As the unerringly accurate weather forecast says every evening, ‘tomorrow will be sunny and hazy’ and so it was when we set off just before 7. More importantly, for the first time this week I have a little time to write to you properly.