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They are saying he should pack his bags and go home

They are saying he should pack his bags and go home

...and that he's too "old" for this.

Chale News
August 01, 2024

QUICK BYTE

Prof. Johnson Nyarko-Boampong, the big boss at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), just got hit with some serious legal drama. An injunction notice! Basically, some dude from Kasoa, John Mevemeo, is like, “Nah, Prof can’t keep his VC throne till 2026. That’s against the Constitution, man!” He’s all about Article 199(1), claiming the Prof should pack his bags by September 18, 2025, not July 31, 2026. Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section below
Letshego Ghana’s Qwikloan just pulled off an epic level-up! They’ve dished out a whopping GHS 2.8 billion in mobile loans in the first half of 2024. That’s like a 500% surge from last year’s GHS 476.5 million. Our boy Sam Donkor, the Chief Commercial Officer, spilled the tea at the Ghana Stock Exchange's event, and it’s clear: Qwikloan is making serious waves, helping over 6.5 million peeps get that cash flow! Want the deets in full? Check out the Deep Dive section.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is making moves, appointing new boards for the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), New Times Corporation, Ghana News Agency, and Graphic Communications Group Limited. Out with the old, in with the new!
This shake-up is part of the strategy to bring in fresh perspectives and energy, ensuring these outlets keep delivering top-notch news and entertainment. Read more
If you fix traffic lights or know someone who does, now’s the time to step up. Residents of Anyaa School Junction are calling your bluff with a one-week ultimatum to fix those streetlights and traffic lights that have been MIA for almost three years.
A tragic incident on July 31, where two pedestrians had a face-off with speeding cars, has pushed the community to its limits. Imagine dodging cars like you're in a real-life game of Frogger—except it's not a game and it's seriously dangerous. Read more
The MP for Ningo-Prampram is urging the Chief Justice to fast-track the anti-LGBTQ bill’s court case. The Supreme Court postponed its ruling on the injunctions, leaving the bill in limbo instead of heading to President Akufo-Addo's desk for a signature. Sam George is like, "Yo, Chief Justice, let’s speed this up! He pointed out that other important cases were wrapped up quickly, so why the delay on this one?
George is pushing for the court to work even during vacations for matters of national importance. He didn't hold back, saying the Chief Justice’s slow pace contradicts her own religious and traditional values. He’s demanding that she practices what she preaches and gets this crucial matter moving. Read more
The Osu Traditional Council is also pushing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo to fast-track the approval of the anti-LGBTQ bill. They're saying it’s crucial to avoid what they believe could be God's wrath on Ghana. Read more
Ghana Gas is hitting the brakes on its Gas Processing Plant and offshore gas export facilities for a 17-day maintenance shutdown from August 1 to August 17. During this period, they’ll be doing thorough inspections and upgrades to prevent any surprise breakdowns. The Sankofa OCTP will step in to provide a lean gas supply to the Takoradi Distribution Station (TDS) to keep things steady.
Ghana Gas is working closely with partners and stakeholders to minimize the impact of this shutdown on the energy sector and the public. They’ve assured everyone that all efforts are being made to stick to the schedule and wrap things up within the 17 days. Read more
The U.S. Embassy in Accra is giving their visa services a makeover, starting August 26, 2024. This means the current visa service provider’s website and services will be shutting down on August 16. So, between August 16 and August 26, you won’t be able to make new appointments, cancel, or reschedule existing ones. Go to the Deep Dive section for full details on what’s changing
A man has won GH₵3 million in damages following a landmark case against Ridge Hospital and the Health Ministry. The case, initiated in 2019 and filed in court in 2020, centered on the tragic death of his pregnant wife due to medical negligence.
The wife suffered a fatal embolism after a Caesarean section. Read more
Gospel artist, QueenLet who is based in Germany claims she shelled out over GH¢800,000 in her Guiness World Record sing-a-thon attempt. Read more
The Moroccan Embassy in Ghana threw a spectacular bash to mark the 25th anniversary of King Mohammed VI's enthronement. Held at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra, the party was a hit with Her Excellency Imane Ouaadil, the Moroccan Ambassador, highlighting the kingdom's epic transformation under the king’s leadership. From ambitious economic reforms to fostering African integration, Morocco’s been on a roll since 1999! He’s even got the Atlantic Initiative – a project launched to connect landlocked Sahel States to the Atlantic Ocean. Read more
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is mourning the loss of Joe Kad, the long-serving Chairman of the Nhyiaeso constituency in the Ashanti Region. Joe Kad passed away on July 31, 2024, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), where he had been receiving treatment for about a week. He was renowned for his dedication and long tenure as the constituency chairman, making a significant impact within the NPP. His passing has left a void in the hearts of many party faithful, who have taken to social media to express their grief and pay tribute. Read more

DEEP DIVE

The Tea on UCC VC's Court Saga ☕📜

Alright, so here’s the full gist. Prof. Nyarko-Boampong's initial reign as UCC’s Vice Chancellor started on August 1, 2020, and was supposed to wrap up on July 31, 2024. The UCC statutes say his term could get a three-year extension, but only if he doesn’t hit the big 6-0 before then. But our man was born on September 18, 1965, which means he should retire by September 18, 2025. This whole July 2026 extension? Yeah, Mevemeo says it’s a no-go.

Mr. Mevemeo claims the UCC Council didn’t follow the right procedures for extending the Prof’s term. They met on July 28, 2023, and decided to keep him till 2026, but Mevemeo argues this move breaches the Constitution and the UCC’s own rules. He’s calling for the court to step in, cancel the extension, and stop the Prof from doing any VC duties after July 31, 2024.

But hold up, it gets juicier. Mevemeo insists that even without the Prof, the university won’t crumble. The UCC statutes supposedly have backup plans for when the VC seat is empty. So, he’s saying, “No worries, UCC will be just fine without Prof Nyarko-Boampong.”

Will Prof. Nyarko-Boampong keep his spot, or will the court say, “Not today, Prof!”? Read more

Qwikloan Disbursements go up by 500%

Letshego Ghana’s Qwikloan is straight-up killing it. They’ve gone from GHS 476.5 million in 2023 to a jaw-dropping GHS 2.8 billion in 2024. This surge isn’t just numbers; it’s about impact. 37% of borrowers are using these loans for biz activities, 24% for school fees, 15% for emergencies, and the rest for bills and medical expenses.

Sam Donkor highlighted that the Qwikloan product is a game-changer for financial inclusion, especially in rural areas. Plus, if they get cheaper funding, they can help even more people who are currently off the financial grid.

So far, Qwikloan has disbursed a total of GHS 18.8 billion, with 60% of Letshego Ghana’s portfolio being Qwikloan. The remaining 40% is tied up in Deduction-At-Source loans. Available via MTN Ghana’s mobile money, Qwikloan makes it super easy to get short-term loans, helping people build good credit histories. In return, responsible borrowers get access to more funds, enabling them to invest in sustainable and productive ventures. Read more

The US Embassy Website is Getting a Make-over

Here's the scoop to keep your travel plans on track.

Key Dates and Actions:

August 16: Last day to access the current visa service website. Make sure you print your appointment confirmation letters and wrap up any last-minute changes.

August 21: Last day to drop off documents at Premium Delivery locations.

August 23: Last day to drop off documents at Ghana locations for Embassy delivery.

August 26: The new visa services website goes live. Time to create a new account and get back to business!

For Applicants with Appointments:

Interviews on or Before August 16: No worries, just proceed as usual. You can still access your account on ustraveldocs.com.

Interviews Between August 16 and August 26: Print your appointment confirmation before August 16 because you won’t be able to access your account after that date. Keep your appointment since rescheduling or cancellation won’t be possible during this period.

Interviews on or After August 26: Print your appointment confirmation before August 16. From August 26 onwards, hop onto the new visa services website to manage your appointment.

For Visa Fee Payers:

Traveling in August or September? Pay the visa fee and book your appointment ASAP – slots are tight during these months.

Traveling After September? You might want to wait until after August 26 to start your visa application.

FACT OF THE DAY

In May 2020, a troop of monkeys swiped some coronavirus blood samples from a lab in Delhi, India. Later, they were spotted hanging out in a tree, casually chewing on a sample collection kit. When we were social distancing and washing our hands every second, the monkeys were playing “pandemic researcher”!

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