Anti-Jenga construction plan

Give it 400 days, please.

Author

Chale News
December 03, 2024

In today’s stories:

  • National: Saglemi Housing: “400 days and it’s yours”—new contractor promises.

  • Economic: The IMF gave us chop money with a “No KFC, only home-cooked meals” rule.

  • National: NDC is done playing nice—Election 2024 strategy? Float like a butterfly, sting like Azumah!

  • National: Ghana’s new passport is here to slay.

  • Regional: Hohoe’s new market said, “Why close at 6 PM when we can hustle till midnight?”

  • Politics: “$11.5 billion! Do you know what I could’ve done with that?”

  • Fact of the Day: Who needs 26 letters of the alphabet when 12 can do the job?

  • Crime: Forget potholes; dodging armed robbers is the real test of Ghanaian road survival skills.

QUICK BYTE

  • Remember the Saglemi Housing Project? Yep, that controversial ghost town of uncompleted buildings that’s been roasting under the Ghanaian sun for over seven years? Well, the Quarm-LMI Consortium has promised that in 400 days we’ll see some wonders. They plan to start by testing the structures to make sure they won’t crumble the moment you hang curtains. After all, some of those buildings have been battered by bad weather and flooding, so a little “re-engineering” is on the menu. (“Dear Lord, let this not be story for the gods.”) Read more

  • Ghana just secured another $360 million from the IMF. That’s like getting your third momo alert from the “Big Uncle” in Canada. The economy is finally catching a little cruise: inflation is chilling (small-small), our debt is on a new plan, and the Bank of Ghana is acting like a bouncer at a party, keeping things calm. But IMF still said, “No slacking ooo, especially with elections around the corner. We don’t want to hear that you’re dashing free electricity or building random community centers to catch votes. Stay focused!” Read more

  • Fifi Kwetey isn’t taking any chances with the Electoral Commission. He says the NDC is stepping into Election 2024 with the same energy Azumah Nelson brought to the ring: jab, dodge, and no room for funny business. His message? “Trust the EC? Nah. Eyes wide open! Want the deets in full? Check out the Deep Dive section.

  • Mahama, stands in the Great Hall of KNUST with a mic in hand and receipts in the other. It’s a special prayer service, but he’s about to drop some revelations. He starts, “Let’s do some maths, shall we?” With a mischievous smile, he breaks it down: “When I was president, I borrowed $3.5 billion. What did we get? A Terminal 3 so sleek it makes our neighbors jealous. Tema Harbour expansions that keep the ships rolling in. Schools, hospitals, roads—you name it. Now, this government? They borrowed $11.5 billion, and the only thing expanding is the national debt.” Read more

FACT OF THE DAY

❝

The Hawaiian alphabet only has 12 letters.

  • It was a real-life action film moment for the Bono Regional Director of the NCCE, Cynthia Anima Boadu, and UTV reporter William Arthur. Returning from an event in Banda-Ahenkro, they ran into armed robbers, reportedly armed with AK-47s who had barricaded the Wenchi-Sunyani road. They held up traffic for about 40 minutes, robbing travelers of cash, phones, and other valuables. Thankfully, victims escaped unhurt, but not without some serious heart-pounding drama. Read more

  • Gone are the days when Ghanaian passports looked regular. We’re now talking about tech-savvy documents that scream, “We’ve arrived!” President Akufo-Addo, in his usual “big man energy,” declared that this new chip-embedded passport isn’t just a travel document. It’s a flex. (okay, we paraphrased, but you get it). Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, handed the first e-passport to the President like it was the Golden Ticket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Then she reminded us that this has been years in the making—since 2016, to be exact. Read more

  • The good people of Hohoe have been blessed with a market that isn’t just functional—it’s open for night market too. Funded by the World Bank (because small flex), the market boasts 106 lockable stores, 146 sheds, a warehouse, and police, fire, and health posts. There are lights in every store and even a creche. Read more

DEEP DIVE

Trust the EC? More like trust a fufu joint to still have meat at 5 p.m.

Fifi Kwetey, the NDC General Secretary has warned Ghanaians that trusting the Electoral Commission (EC) is like leaving your meat in the hostel fridge—it might be there when you come back, but the odds aren’t in your favor.

He recalled the "wahala" of the 2020 elections: unaddressed complaints, intransigence, and Peace Council interventions. “Let’s just say Jean Mensa’s EC has made ‘surprises’ their brand,” Kwetey quipped. He’s urging the NDC to approach 2024 like a boxing match—channeling Azumah Nelson in his prime: eyes locked on the opponent, punches ready for any curveball.

Fiifi didn’t mince words: “We’re entering this election like Azumah in round two—no favours expected, no distractions, and definitely no room for funny stunts.”

Despite the heavy punches, he admitted there’s been some improvement in transparency but cautioned against blind trust. “This isn’t a telenovela where the villain turns good. We’re here with our eyes wide open!” Read more

NEWS SOURCES

Today’s stories are curated from: