Ain't nobody wearing a promise ring!

Happy Fri — oh, wait, it’s Thursday! I know most of y’all have mentally checked out of work and school but please, let’s be calming down.😂😂

Today’s stories include:

• Politics: General Mosquito’s ditching the peace declaration vibes, saying it’s as useful as an umbrella in a hurricane.

• National: Konongo’s got a water crisis: miners go rogue, rivers go muddy, and residents say, “enough is enough.”

• Economic: FGR misses its mining deadline, locals call out the ghosting government, and the future of Prestea and Bogoso hangs in the balance.

• Entertainment: From broke love to rich vibes only – Efia Odo’s new dating mantra is all about leveling up!

• Fact of the Day: You might think you’ve mastered the art of the #hashtag, but what if I told you that hashtag's real name isn’t even “hashtag”?

• National: EC promises a flawless voter register, NDC cries foul, and the plot thickens ahead of December's showdown.

• Health: Locked up, but not knocked down—Dr. Tobbin’s narrates his wild FDA/BNI ordeal.

• Education: Teachers MIA for 65 days? But Colleges of Education ain’t closing down!

• National: GTA says bye-bye to bumpy rides—roads to tourist sites are about to get a glow-up!

QUICK BYTE

• General Mosquito (that’s Asiedu Nketia, ICYMI) is swerving on signing any pre-election peace declarations, saying it’s all for show. His vibe? If you really wanna avoid chaos, you start by fixing the cracks way before things start to crumble. No more last-minute peace rallies that do nada.

  He’s side-eyeing the whole “sign a paper, make it all better” routine, especially after what went down in 2020. And with some sketchy new hires in the security forces, he’s basically telling us to buckle up—things might get spicy. Want the deets in full? Check out the Deep Dive section.

• Konongo’s facing a water crisis, and it’s not because of a dry spell – it’s because miners are turning the town’s lifeline into a muddy disaster. Locals are done playing nice and want the government to step up, pronto. Time’s ticking, and so is their patience. Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section below

• Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for Future Global Resources missed its 120-day deadline to revive the Prestea and Bogoso mines, leaving the local community and miners high and dry. Nana Nteboa Pra is frustrated with both FGR and the government, saying they’ve been ghosted in this whole fiasco. The Ministry now faces a tough decision – revoke the leases or find a solution before the community runs out of patience. Read more in the Deep Dive Section.

• In the latest episode of Election 2024, the Electoral Commission (EC) is telling everyone to keep calm and trust the process. They’ve promised to drop a shiny, credible voter register just in time for the December elections. The NDC isn’t having it though. Dr. Boamah, their Director of Elections, is throwing major shade, calling the EC out for what he sees as straight-up incompetence. He’s on Facebook, warning that the delay is like a ticking time bomb that could push Ghana into chaos if things don’t shape up fast. But the EC’s Dr. Serebuor Quaicoe is out here like, “Chill, fam, we’re all in this together, right?” Read more

• Efia Odo just dropped some major tea on the latest episode of Rants, Bants, and Confessions. Apparently, our girl was hitched from 2019 to 2021! Yeah, secretly married and all. But before you start planning a late wedding gift, let’s get into why it didn’t last.

  Turns out, the guy was not just broke but also cheating. Efia confessed that back then, she was all starry-eyed and knee-deep in love, hoping for a miracle. Fast forward to 2024, and Efia’s got a whole new vibe. Now, she’s only rolling with men who’ve got their bank accounts in check. Sorry, broke guys – this ride’s not for you! Read more

• Imagine getting scooped up in a Rambo-style arrest, thrown into BNI cells, and forced to sign confessions just to get out. That’s exactly what happened to Dr. Samuel Amo Tobbin of Tobinco Pharmaceuticals back in 2013. After being accused of importing fake drugs, he and his partner were trapped in a real-life thriller, reporting to the BNI daily like it was their 9-to-5. But guess what? Ten years later, Dr. Tobbin finally got his Hollywood Christmas movie ending—completely cleared of all charges! Please note, he’s been paid approx GHs 94 million in judgement debt. But our man says his good name is better than riches. Read more

• So, it’s been 65 days since teachers at the Colleges of Education went on strike, and the students are this close to tapping out. But the Education Ministry is like, “Nope, we’re not shutting anything down!” Even though students are heading home to save on rent and avoid the campus food struggle, the Ministry is asking everyone to chill—hoping the teachers will come back soon. Read more

• The latest report is out, and it’s not looking good—Ghana’s food insecurity has spiked by 5.77%, thanks to the relentless cost-of-living crisis. With inflation through the roof, a weakening cedi, and fuel prices on a never-ending climb, staples like maize and rice are getting pricier by the day. And it’s not just Ghana feeling the heat; Nigeria and Uganda are also seeing food insecurity rise, while Zimbabwe somehow pulled off a decrease. No wonder Waakye sellers are tearing waakye from only GHs 10 going 😥😑 Read more

• GTA’s CEO, Akwasi Agyeman, is all about making your journey to Ghana’s hotspots a whole lot easier—because who wants potholes with their sightseeing? They’re teaming up with the Roads Ministry to smooth out those bumpy journeys, especially during the rainy season. It’s rather unfortunate we can’t tell you when exactly because they only said, “in the coming months.” Read more

• Salma Mumin says haters are just ‘ghosts’—they don’t know her, and she’s too busy thriving to let their comments bother her. Critics online have been buzzing about her new Range Rover and where she got her coins, but Salma’s just laughing it off. Ghosts or fans, she’s staying fabulous! Read more

DEEP DIVE

NDC Says 'Nah, We’re Good' to Peace Pact—Here’s Why

So, your bestie invites you to sign a peace treaty before your next Monopoly game because, let's be real, things got heated last time (we’re talking flipped boards and missing houses). Now, instead of signing, you’re like, “Nah, how about we don’t start fights in the first place?” That’s basically what General Mosquito, aka Asiedu Nketia, is saying about this whole election peace declaration thing.

Asiedu Nketia, who’s the big boss over at the NDC, thinks signing a peace declaration before elections is as useful as putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. On Joy News’ PM Express, he basically said, “Been there, done that, still got the scars.” He’s not about that symbolic life anymore and feels that if we really wanna keep things chill, we should start by dealing with the stuff that causes all the drama—like, months ago.

He’s throwing shade at all the post-fight kumbaya moments, saying that waiting till the drama’s about to hit the fan and then signing a “peace contract” is like trying to patch things up with your roommate after they’ve eaten your leftovers. Ain’t nobody got time for that! He wants the squad (read: authorities) to step up early and nip that chaos in the bud.

General Mosquito also dropped some serious tea about shady dealings in the security forces, hinting that hiring 10,000 new “friends” might just be the recipe for a stormy election. In his words, “It’s brewing now,” like when you just know that one group chat is about to blow up. Read more

When Miners Go Rogue and Rivers Go Muddy

So, ICYMI, Konongo’s going through a lot. Miners are going all-in with their excavators, turning the Owere River into something that looks like your auntie’s favorite mud spa. And the kicker? This river is the main water source for the whole town!

Locals are fuming – like, the kind of mad you get when they tell you jollof is finished at the wedding reception (or when you catch your bestie with your baby boo). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission were, apparently, just chilling, thinking this was some casual “dredging exercise.” Surprise! The miners had other plans, and now the whole town’s water supply is on the line. Even the highway near the site is caving in like a bad relationship, but fixing it? Yeah, still waiting on that.

Residents are calling for the government to swoop in and save the day – or at least, save their water. The town’s tired of the sneaky cover-ups and blocked roads. It’s high time someone presses pause on this mining madness before Konongo becomes a full-on desert. Read more

FGR’s Mining Deadline: When 120 Days Feels Like an Eternity and Mines Go MIA

Looks like FGR took the concept of "deadline" and turned it into a full-on comedy show! The 120-day grace period to breathe life into the Prestea and Bogoso mines has expired, and guess what? The mines are still as lively as a ghost town. Imagine waiting for a package that never arrives – that’s the vibe here.

Nana Nteboa Pra, Chief of Hima Prestea, is throwing some serious shade. He’s not just frustrated – he’s practically screaming into the void. The locals and miners have been stuck in limbo, and the only thing FGR managed to do was settle some overdue salaries. But where’s the promised capital injection and renewed mining action? The community is feeling like a forgotten sidekick in a superhero movie – left out of the decision-making drama.

Adding insult to injury, Nana Nteboa Pra is calling out the government for ghosting the locals. He’s like, “We’re right here, you know!” The chiefs have been hustling to get a word from the Ministry, but it’s been radio silence since last October. The community wants to be more than just spectators in this mining saga; they want a seat at the table.

Now, with the Ministry weighing its options, it’s crunch time. Will FGR’s mining leases get yanked, or will someone swoop in to save the day? As the local community holds its breath, the government's next move could either bring back the buzz or turn the situation into an epic fail. Read more

CHECK OUT WHAT’S TRENDING

• Korle-Bu Renal Unit closed to outpatients

• WHO declares global health emergency

NEWS SOURCES

Today’s stories are curated from:

1. www.myjoyonline.com

2. www.ghanaweb.com

3. www.citinewsroom.com

4. www.norvanreports.com

5. www.channel1new.com