Minister said ‘rice and shine’

So, what’s in the bag today?

• Regional: “Sir, we need cash to restart, not ingredients for a feast.”

• Crime: From serving the nation to serving hot revenge

• National: ECG has somehow "misplaced" 1,300 containers at Tema Harbour, and the Energy Minister is launching a criminal probe.

• National: Sam George is firing people, and Obour says, ‘Relax small!’

• National: Ladies and gentlemen, we have a galamsey scoreboard update!

• Fact of the Day: The world’s most succesful pirate was a woman. True or false?

• National: Mahama to GBA: Come for me if I mess up!

• National: No more free lunch—1D1F tax breaks are getting evicted.

QUICK BYTE

• Imagine standing in the middle of your burnt-down shop, surrounded by ashes, and someone hands you 1,500 bags of rice. What’s the game plan here? Sell the rice to raise money? Open a jollof joint in the ruins? The government pulled up to help fire victims at Adum, but instead of financial aid, they came bearing rice, oil, and soap. Traders were like, “My guy, do we look like caterers?” All they needed was capital to restart their businesses, but now, they’re being forced into the jollof economy. One frustrated trader summed it up: “I used to sell phones, not fried rice!”Adum traders want the minister to know they didn’t lose their ability to cook, they lost their means to survive. E shock you? Read more

• Ladies and gentlemen, we have a workplace wahala on our hands! Sam George, Ghana’s new Communication Minister, is out here terminating contracts like a boss who just realized his company is overstaffed. Apparently, almost 600 people hired after the 2024 elections are on the chopping block, and Obour (yes, the musician-turned-Ghana Post boss) is telling him to chill before hitting the “You’re Fired” button. Want the deets in full? Check out the Deep Dive section.

• According to the Minerals Commission’s Deputy CEO, Isaac Tandoh, seven out of nine “no-go” galamsey zones have been reclaimed in just two months under Mahama’s administration. That’s faster than the way your favorite waakye seller switches prices after fuel goes up. Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section below

• You ever been so mad at someone that you wanted to pour hot water on them? No? Well, Constable Alonsi Elizabeth said, “Why imagine when you can do?” and turned her colleague into a walking bowl of oats. After an argument, sis skipped the usual insults and passive-aggressive shade, went straight to the kitchen, and came back with boiling water. Now, she’s on forced leave (read: interdicted) and facing legal wahala. Meanwhile, her colleague, now sporting some fresh burns, is receiving medical care and, hopefully, a lifetime supply of aloe vera. But if arguments in the police service are ending in hot water showers, then what’s next? Ghana Police, are you okay? Do we need an HR intervention? Read more

• Ghana needs a missing items department because how do you misplace 1,300 ECG containers? That’s not a pack of gum, bro. That’s 1,300 massive metal boxes—gone, poof, vanished, like they took a one-way ticket to Wakanda. The Energy Minister, John Jinapor, is just as confused as the rest of us and has launched a criminal investigation into the great disappearing act at Tema Harbour. See, before the NPP left office, they said ECG had about 3,000 containers chilling at the port because they couldn’t clear them. Fast forward to today, and the new government is checking the books like, “Wait, why are we seeing only 2,500?” The missing 1,300 have accumulated a cool GHS 1.5 billion in demurrage fees. As if ECG wasn’t already draining our pockets, now they’re losing money for fun? Somebody hold us, we’re about to scream. Read more

• It looks like the 1D1F tax exemption policy just got kicked out of the party. Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, has officially pulled the plug on these tax breaks, saying people have been abusing them like a buy-one-get-one-free promo at your fave stores. According to him, the whole thing was meant to boost local industries, but instead, some companies finessed the system, and now the government is left looking like a primary school pupil whose lunch money got stolen. Read more

• President Mahama just told the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to sharpen their legal pens and critique his government freely. He’s practically inviting the smoke. During a courtesy visit by GBA leader Efua Ghartey, Mahama emphasized that accountability is key to national progress and that civil society should call out bad governance when necessary. Quoting a local proverb, he noted that sometimes, "the one walking doesn’t see the crooked path, but onlookers do." In other words, if his government starts moving mad, the GBA should not hold back. Read more

DEEP DIVE

“My guy, relax”

According to Obour, the recruitment process was as legit as a passport with the new security features; everything was documented, approved, and above board. But Sam George is treating it like an “April Fool’s” hiring spree, saying the numbers need to be streamlined. And honestly, we’ve all been in situations where a new boss shows up and suddenly starts making changes like a fresh JHS headmaster banning short skirts and loud laughter.

Now, Obour is basically saying, “Bro, read the documents before you start handing out dismissal letters like flyers.” He’s even offering to help with the paperwork. But Sam George is focused on job removal.

So, what’s next? A showdown between the former hiplife star and the MP who doesn’t mince his words? Or will Sam George take Obour’s advice and do some ‘due diligence’? Either way, some workers are definitely sweating harder than someone at independence parade without a handkerchief. Read more

Minerals Commission says Mahama’s got the Midas touch.

This revelation comes after the NPP threw shots, claiming illegal mining had worsened under the new NDC government. But Tandoh pulled out the receipts, saying that out of Ghana’s 288 forests, 44 have been under serious galamsey attack, and nine were classified as “red zones” meaning absolute no-entry areas. Now, Mahama’s team has reportedly flipped seven of those red zones to yellow, signaling some progress in the battle against illegal mining. Whether this is a true turnaround or just political PR, one thing is certain—galamsey remains one of Ghana’s biggest environmental headaches. And if this progress is real, then Mahama might just be pulling off a cleanup faster than a child who hears their mother’s footsteps after being told to wash dishes. Read more

CHECK OUT WHAT’S TRENDING

• Godfred Dame sues government

• They are saying some traders regret not voting for Bawumia

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. Channel1news