Why let the taxman crash your lucky streak?

You know what they say about the 13th of August? No? Well, neither do we😁😁.

What we do know is, it’s great to see you today!

In the headlines:

• Politics: Mahama’s cooking up alternatives to the betting tax

• Economic: Investors Lining Up Like It's the Latest iPhone Release

• Health: Korle Bu just landed 30 new dialysis machines, sparing patients from pricey private sessions

• Economic: Ghana’s Treasury is out here trying to raise GHS 4.97 billion, to catch up with those looming GHS 3.9 billion maturities

• Fact of the Day: You’d never believe who has 3 hearts and many lovers.

• Entertainment: Obama’s summer playlist just dropped, and guess what? Rema, Tems, and Tyla are vibing with legends like Bob Dylan

• Entertainment: A Plus thinks helping the creative arts industry is like wrestling with an octopus—because if you’re not careful, they’ll hit you while you’re trying to lend a hand.

• National: Transport operators think Bawumia’s driver’s license pledge is just another “let’s-get-your-vote” move.

• Politics: Manasseh Azure Awuni thinks Akufo-Addo would have been a legend if he never took office.

• Economic: NEDCo loses a whopping GH¢3.7 million to illegal power connections in Northern region.

Now, the news in quick bytes:

QUICK BYTE

• You know that new “give me my money” trend going round on TikTok? We think it’s sparked some ideas for John Mahama. So he strolled into the NDC’s Youth Townhall Meeting and said that he’s ready to scrap the betting tax, right along with the dreaded E-Levy, if he wins. No more sneaky taxes on your hard-earned betting wins or those awkward moments when you realize that E-Levy took a bite out of your MoMo.

  So with Mahama’s plan, your next bet could just stay between you and your lucky stars, not between you and the taxman. Want the deets in full? Check out the Deep Dive section.

• So, the Government of Ghana’s pulling out the Treasury bills—looking to snag GHS 4.97 billion in its upcoming auction. Why? Because they've got GHS 3.9 billion in IOUs coming due, and those bills don’t pay themselves. The auction will dish out 91, 182, and 364-day T-bills, but let’s be real: the 91-day bill is the Beyoncé of this auction, hogging 78% of investor love. Last week, they aimed high with GHS 6.55 billion, but landed at GHS 5.3 billion—still good, but not quite Grammy-worthy. Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section below

• Keta Port’s about to be the next big thing—at least, that’s what six eager investors are banking on. The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) is playing the waiting game, though, holding out for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) report before they let these investors put their money where their mouth is. Think of it like waiting for that perfect selfie lighting—it’s all about timing. But let’s be real, the folks in Keta are side-eyeing the whole process, wondering why this is taking longer than their favorite series finale. Read more in the Deep Dive Section.

• If you’ve ever had your car break down right before payday, you’ll get why Korle Bu’s latest haul of 30 dialysis machines is a big deal. After weeks of juggling supply chain delays and procedural hiccups that left patients hanging, the hospital’s finally turning the corner. Thanks to a clutch move by Health Minister Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, the new machines will hit the hospital’s Urology and Nephrology Centre, giving the Renal Dialysis Unit the upgrade it desperately needed.

  The new machines come with their own consumables that last a whole year. Plus, they play nice with market-standard supplies, so no more waiting on overpriced, back-ordered imports. Read more

• You know it’s officially summer when Obama drops his playlist, and this year’s mix is like a buffet. Our faves Rema, Tems, and Tyla made the cut, sharing the spotlight with legends like Bob Marley. See full list above

• The Transport Operators of Ghana are side-eyeing NPP’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for promising to extend driver’s license renewals to 10 years. They’re calling it a classic election bait, saying Bawumia’s previous moves—like hiking taxes on fuel—make him hard to trust. Basically, they’re saying, "Fool us once, shame on you; fool us twice, not gonna happen." Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section

• A Plus has never been shy about speaking his mind, and his latest take on the creative arts industry is no exception. In a blunt critique, he argued that the industry is plagued by disunity and a "me, me, me" mentality that makes it almost impossible to offer genuine help. "If you want to help them, be ready to hold them with one hand and fend off blows with the other," he quipped. Read more

• Ghanaian journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni is stirring the pot with his latest take on President Nana Akufo-Addo. In a recent interview, Manasseh suggested that Akufo-Addo would have been more respected and revered in history if he had never taken office or if his journey ended before becoming President. According to Manasseh, the Akufo-Addo that Ghanaians got wasn’t the visionary leader many expected, leaving folks more disappointed than inspired. Read more

• The struggle to keep the lights on just got tougher for NEDCo, as illegal power connections in the Northern region have drained GH¢3.7 million from their coffers. The company’s Managing Director, Osman Ayuba, broke down the situation during a recent session with Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, pointing out that this loss accounts for a significant chunk of the total GH¢4.1 million lost across all NEDCo areas. Ayuba also mentioned that 627 summonses have been issued. Read more

DEEP DIVE

All Your Money’s Coming Back to You

You spent the night calculating your odds, placing a bet on that weekend match thinking you’ve got it all figured out. Not to mention keeping your eye on that aviator plane, Finally, you win, but then—boom—the taxman swoops in and takes a chunk of your joy. Buzzkill, right? Well, Mahama’s like, "Nah, fam, that's not the vibe." At the NDC Youth Townhall, he’s all about giving us back our wins without the government taking a slice.

Mahama's also giving that E-Levy the side-eye, saying it’s been a flop for revenue and a real drag on your MoMo life. You know that anger you feel when you see the E-Levy deduction? Yeah, Mahama’s promising to make that feeling a thing of the past.

And here’s where it gets even juicier—Mahama’s not just about making your betting life better. He’s thinking big-picture, like how to stop Ghana’s talent drain. He’s calling for a better way to send our brightest abroad without them having to bounce because the economy’s got them stressed.

So, whether you’re into betting or just tired of surprise deductions on your mobile money, I guess this is some news. Read more

Investors are lining up at the Keta shore

Imagine hyping up your friends for a party and then making them wait years for the invite. That’s kinda what’s happening with Keta Port. Back in 2018, President Akufo-Addo signed off on Keta as the next big port, but four years later, the dance floor’s still empty, and the residents are starting to get restless. Now, over six private investors—both local and international—are lined up, ready to turn this port into a reality. But there’s a catch: no one’s making a move until the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drops its report.

GPHA’s Director-General, Michael Luguje, says they’re in talks, but it’s all about that environmental and social impact assessment report. Without it, these investors are just window shopping. Luguje’s hopeful the report will be ready in the next couple of months, so the investors can finally slide in their proposals and get this port party started.

But the people of Keta are tired of hearing “soon.” They’ve been hearing about this port for years, and all they’ve got to show for it is a promise. If this port doesn’t start taking shape soon, Keta might just be the hottest party that never happened. Read

It’s Fundraiser Time!

Do you remember that time you were trying to cover your rent, water and electricity bill, pay the woman down the road for the provisions you bought on credit and still have enough left over? Of course, remember!

The government is hustling to raise GHS 4.97 billion, mainly to cover GHS 3.9 billion in looming maturities. Welcome to Ghana’s Treasury Bill auction!

The auction’s main star? The 91-day Treasury Bill, which always seems to steal the spotlight, grabbing 78% of the investor interest. It’s like the popular kid in school—everyone wants a piece, even if it only inches up by 0.01% to a 24.83% yield. Meanwhile, the longer-term bills are sitting there like wallflowers, just waiting for their moment.

Last week, they were shooting for the moon with a GHS 6.55 billion target, but only hit GHS 5.3 billion. Not bad, but like trying to fit into those jeans you bought last year—almost, but not quite. The Treasury’s got its work cut out, but if they can pull this off, it’s another day survived in the rollercoaster that is Ghana’s financial scene. Read more

Drivers vs Bawumia

Dr. Bawumia just dropped a promise to stretch out the driver’s license renewal from two years to a whole decade. Sounds good, right? But the Transport Operators of Ghana are giving him the side-eye, calling it nothing more than a “vote-for-me” trick.

Why the skepticism? Well, these operators are saying Bawumia’s track record isn’t exactly giving them the warm fuzzies. They’re like, “Remember when you slapped us with that Sanitation and Pollution Levy? And how about those fuel price hikes? Not cool, man.”

And let’s not forget the big 2020 promise about electric vehicles for drivers that’s still MIA. Plus, they’re still waiting on that pledge to fix road-worthy certificate penalties—something he totally ghosted on after a recent GPRTU meeting.

Long story short, the operators want Bawumia to fix the mess he’s already made before he comes with any new promises. Their advice to drivers? Stay woke and don’t let the election-year vibes fool you. Read more

CHECK OUT WHAT’S TRENDING

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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