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Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Finance Ministry are now the stars of a courtroom drama, thanks to a lawsuit over tax waivers for 42 companies under the 1 District 1 Factory Initiative. It all started when the government released a list asking for $335 million in tax breaks under the 1D1F initiative. Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited tops the list with $164 million. Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section below
Government terminated West Blue's contract. West Blue said, âOkay, I will go but first pay me 95 million cedisâ. Now, the Public Accounts Committee wants answers on why this judgment debt was awarded and how the legal defenses were handled.
Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed is raising eyebrows, calling this a classic case of "create, loot, and share." Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section below
So, there's this local trader, Afia, who sells beautiful handcrafted kente cloth. She recently shared how shipping her products overseas was costing an arm and a leg due to sneaky extra fees from shipping companies. Her story isnât uniqueâmany Ghanaian businesses were feeling the squeeze from these hidden charges.
Parliament took note and decided to act. Say hello to the Ghana Shippers Authority Bill 2024. This new law aims to put an end to those unfair shipping charges and make things transparent and standard across the board. This bill is a big win for local businesses. Read more
The family of Lois Koranteng, a KNUST grad who was found dead at a Takoradi hotel have released some evidence. Her family isnât buying the police and hotelâs stories. They claim the police lied about the autopsy date and have photo proof of bloodstains the police said didnât exist.
The hotelâs sketchy too. They claimed their cameras werenât working, but the family has evidence they were. Plus, they fired some staff and changed cameras right after Loisâs death. The family wants answers and is ready to drop more evidence if they donât get them. Want the breakdown of how itâs going down? Read more in the deep dive section.
Emmanuel Nash, an event organizer, allegedly scammed a woman out of GH¢338,000. Nash told the Adentan Circuit Court he gave GH¢94,000 of that back to the Madina District Crime Officer, whoâs now sitting on it like a dragon on gold. The court wasn't having it and subpoenaed the officer.
So Nash is out on a hefty bail, pleading not guilty, while his partner in crime, Mariam AppiahâKorang, pulled a Houdini and vanished. The judge set the next court date for August 21. Read more
In a last-minute dash to the voting mall, the EC is aiming to register up to 70,000 new voters in a three-day August mop-up exercise. Itâs happening at 268 District Offices, 26 Public Universities, and 41 Prison Centres from 7 AM to 6 PM. Teaming up with MTN for smooth online registration, the EC is determined to ensure an all-inclusive voter list. This comes after their May run, where they scooped up a whopping 778,447 new voters.
Remember, you need a Ghana Card or Passport to get in the game. No docs? No worries â grab two already-registered pals to vouch for you. Just remember, these pals can only help 10 people max, so pick your guarantors wisely.
Oh, and the EC is calling all party reps to play nice at the registration centres. The Ghana Police will be there to keep peace. Read more
Rapper E.L just dropped the big news he's off the market! He even shared a wild story about a female fan who climbed his wall just to knock on his bedroom window. So, if youâre still daydreaming about a date with E.L, itâs time to redirect those dreams elsewhere cos there are âNo Vacancies."
Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum just announced a limited recruitment drive for Senior High School teachers, starting next week. In a Facebook post, he teased more details on the application process and focus areas, so aspiring teachers, keep your eyes peeled!
This follows hot on the heels of the Health Ministry's announcement to recruit 15,200 nurses and midwives, with applications kicking off on August 5, 2024. Just a heads-up: the recruitment process is free, so donât fall for any shady schemes asking for money. Read more
Looks like KNUST is back in the legal spotlight! Professor Akosua Dicksonâs term extension as Vice Chancellor has hit another roadblock. Isaac Mensah has filed an injunction against her reappointment, which the University Council approved on June 20. The case is set for a showdown today, July 30.
Professor Dickson's reappointment, which extends her tenure from August 2024 to July 2026, was announced by Registrar Ansah Boateng. However, Mensah claims it violates university statutes and is unjustified. Meanwhile, Tech alumni is urging to be dropped and unions are calling for calm. Read more
Guess who just schooled the entire continent in robotics? Vine Christian High School (VCHS)! These champs took first place at the Pan African Robotics Competition in Dakar, Senegal, on July 28, 2024.
This showdown brought together the best high school robotics teams from 14 African countries, with around 400 young tech wizards flexing their skills. VCHS wowed the judges with their innovative design, exceptional creativity, and flawless teamwork. Read more
DEEP DIVE
So, Ghana's GRA and Finance Ministry are in hot water, facing a lawsuit over tax waivers for 42 companies. Three Minority MPs are saying these waivers are unconstitutional and bad for the country. They want the Supreme Court to cancel them.
The three MPs, Bernard Ahiafor (MP for Akatsi South), Kwame Agbodza (MP for Adaklu), and Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP for Ellembelle are basically saying, "Hold up, this isnât cool for Ghana!"
So, what's the tea? These MPs argue that the tax waivers are not only unhelpful but also a direct smack in the face of Article 174 of the 1992 Constitution. In simpler terms, they're calling these waivers unconstitutional and want the Supreme Court to slam the brakes on them.
One of the MPs, Bernard Ahiafor, is like, "Yo, Supreme Court, we need you to step in for the sake of Ghana." Heâs worried that the Constitution is being trampled on, and he's not having it. Theyâre seeking a ruling thatâll declare these waivers null and void, essentially saying, "This is not how we roll."
This all kicked off when the government dropped a list of companies asking for tax waivers, amounting to a whopping $335 million. The biggest player? Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited, asking for a cool $164 million in exemptions. The MPs arenât impressed and are pushing back hard, setting the stage for a legal showdown. Read more
SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO LOIS?
Imagine the shock and heartbreak of losing a loved one under mysterious circumstances. Now, imagine the frustration when the authorities you trust seem to be hiding the truth. This is the nightmare the family of Lois Koranteng, a KNUST graduate, is living through. Lois was found dead at a hotel in Takoradi, and her family is not buying the official story.
The family accuses the Ghana Police Service and the hotel management of botching the investigation and spreading false information. They claim the police lied about conducting Loisâs autopsy on June 8th, the day she was found. According to them, the autopsy actually happened on June 11th, and they want to know why this discrepancy exists.
But thatâs not all. The police report stated there were no bloodstains on Lois, yet her family says they have photographic evidence showing a âreddish liquidâ coming from her nose. They are calling out the police for their lack of transparency and communication. Other than a visit that seemed more like a cover-up attempt, the police have left the family in the dark about the investigation's progress. Even unlocking Loisâs phone, which might hold crucial clues, seems beyond their capabilities.
The hotel management isn't off the hook either. The family disputes the hotelâs claim that their security cameras were not working when Lois died. They have evidence suggesting otherwise and are questioning why the hotel dismissed its management staff and replaced the security cameras shortly after the incident. They allege that the hotel is muzzling a staff member from talking and pressuring the family to take down their social media posts that demand the truth.
Adding to the familyâs suspicions is Loisâs employer. The company allegedly rushed to get her laptop password just hours after her death, raising eyebrows about their motives. The family says they have a voice recording of this request and are demanding transparency from the employer.
With all these questions hanging in the air, the family has presented some evidence and is threatening to release more if they don't get satisfactory explanations. Read more
WEST BLUEâS GOT GOVERNMENT FEELING BLUE
You have a deal with your paddy that goes south. Then the next day, they show up at your house with a crazy bill you didn't see coming. That's what's happening with the government and a company called West Blue. This company used to provide tech services for the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the ports, but their contract got the boot. Now, the government owes them a hefty GHâľ95 million in judgment debt.
Julie Essiam, the GRA Commissioner-General, confirmed this staggering amount during a recent Public Accounts Committee hearing. The Minority in Parliament isn't just sitting back; they're demanding some serious answers. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, a committee member, wants to know the nitty-gritty details of how this massive debt came to be. He's pushing for transparency on the legal maneuvers the government used before the court ruled in favor of West Blue.
Mohammed didn't mince words, hinting at possible shady dealings. He described the situation as part of a "create, loot, and share" culture, suggesting systemic corruption. His concerns highlight a bigger issue: the integrity of the processes that led to such a financial hit on public funds. It's a call for a deeper look into whether this judgment debt was a result of deliberate financial missteps. Read more
FACT OF THE DAY
Welcome to the world of Potassium Nitrate, aka saltpetre, a.k.a. kanwa with a wild past!
Back in the 19th century, a bold experiment went down in Kentucky's Mammoth Cave. Dr. John Croghan thought this cave's steady climate and its abundance of saltpetre might be the ultimate cure for tuberculosis. So, he set up a makeshift hospital in the depths of the cave.
Unfortunately, the reality was more of a horror story. Patients lived in gloomy, damp stone huts, coughing away their days in the dark, with the environment proving more harmful than helpful. The experiment ended in disaster by 1843, and Croghan himself succumbed to the disease six years later. The experiment did, however, advance medical knowledge about tuberculosis.
Now, hereâs where it gets crazier. The very mineral Dr. Croghan hoped would heal the sickâsaltpetreâhad another, rather explosive career. Saltpeter, also known as the base of gunpowder, was once used to supply American soldiers with munitions for wars, including the fight against the British in the War of 1812.
So, from fueling warfare to futile healing attempts, and eventually finding its place in some peopleâs kitchens, saltpetreâs done a lot!
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