They tried it

But mercy said, "No".

Author

Etornam Agbley
November 01, 2024

You’ll agree there’s something really nice about a new month starting on a Friday. Maybe it’s the weekend starting. November babies are also in the studio cooking photoshoots for us right now.😁😁

And we’ve got:

  • National: Drivers want a 15% fare hike? Ministry says, ‘Nah, we good’”

  • Politics: Bawku’s long-standing beef pushes the death toll to 19.

  • National: Martin Amidu calls out Speaker Bagbin’s Supreme Court snub, saying Ghana’s Constitution is no one’s hostage.

  • National: Ghana rolls out 5G today—think Netflix without buffering, selfies that upload in seconds, and your memes finally hitting peak speed.

  • Fact of the Day: What’s the longest English word without a vowel?

  • Politics: Mahama says Akufo-Addo’s cabinet could double as a family reunion

  • National: Mahama says Ghanaian journalists need a break from playing hide-and-seek with the government.

  • Education: Teachers in Ghana’s double-track schools say they’re working 24/7—without the paycheck to match.

  • Agribusiness: Cocoa farmers to COCOBOD: Yo, can we talk?

QUICK BYTE

  • So, word on the street is the Concerned Drivers Association is hyping up a 15% fare hike starting November 2, saying costs for everything—from spare parts to fuel—are through the roof. But the Transport Ministry is putting up the “No Hike” sign, claiming prices are chill right now, so the drivers need to chill too. Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section below

  • Mahama’s calling out Akufo-Addo for running the government like a family WhatsApp group. He’s all for Ghanaian talent, just not the kind that’s only one degree of separation from a family photo. According to him, a government should be less family reunion, more national team. So maybe it’s time for Akufo-Addo to look beyond his family album when picking his squad. Want the deets in full? Check out the Deep Dive section.

  • Get ready to ditch that “Loading…” circle of doom because Ghana’s stepping into the 5G chat! Today promises a 5G launch that will to level up our internet speeds -video calls that don’t freeze mid-sentence, lightning-fast uploads, and downloads so quick they’ll make you wonder if you just found a secret hack to the internet. This is a new era of speed, powered by big names like Nokia and Telecel Ghana. Read more

  • So, Bawku’s chieftaincy drama just claimed two more lives, taking the conflict’s death toll to 19. The latest victims, one Mamprusi and one Togolese, just trying to take his father’s body home to Togo, and bam!—an ambush that left them no chance. The tension has been so thick it’s practically a fog. Clashes have escalated like wildfire, with people constantly on edge, unsure when the next ambush might strike. Security forces are there, but the peace they’re trying to keep feels like one of those jenga towers. Read more

  • Former Attorney General Martin Amidu is coming in hot, and his target? None other than Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin. The gist: Bagbin reportedly ignored a Supreme Court ruling he didn’t vibe with, and Amidu is not about that life. In an article that’s one part roast, one part civics lesson, Amidu’s message is simple—no one, not even Mr. Speaker, gets to ghost the Constitution. Read more

FACT OF THE DAY

❝

Rhythm" is the longest English word without a vowel.

  • You’re trying to tell a story, but someone’s always shushing you, side-eyeing you, or just blocking your mic. According to Mahama, this is pretty much what Ghanaian journalists have been dealing with under Akufo-Addo’s rule. At his Good Governance Forum, Mahama threw down, accusing Akufo-Addo’s government of treating press freedom like an endangered species—keeping it rare and under lock and key. He didn’t hold back, saying journalists are practically out here playing “don’t-say-that” and muting themselves just to avoid government backlash. Read more

  • You’re all set to hang a family photo in your house, only for someone to waltz in and slap their picture on it without asking. That’s pretty much how the Akwamu Traditional Council feels about the Adomi Railway Station renaming. The Council, led by their Paramount Chief Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, is heated. They’re calling out the Railway Development Authority’s bold move to rebrand Adomi Station as Juapong Station—a switch-up that didn’t exactly come with a “we value your input” memo. And while Juapong’s cool and all, the Chief says Adomi carries history, culture, and roots that don’t get swapped out like station posters. It’s more than a name; it’s their legacy, and they’re ready to throw down (peacefully) to keep it intact. Read more

  • Okay, so you know how sometimes you’re exhausted from cramming for exams and barely get a break? Now imagine doing that all year long…as a teacher. Yep, that’s what teachers in Ghana’s double-track high schools are facing, and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is saying enough is enough. According to GNAT’s General Secretary, Thomas Tanko Musah, teachers deserve a compensation plan that reflects the marathon they’re running every school term. He also argues that even cars get regular servicing; shouldn’t teachers get a break too? Read more

  • A group of cocoa farmers are out in the fields, doing their thing, pouring sweat, dodging bugs, and praying their crops don’t get destroyed by bad weather or worse, low prices. Now imagine them also having to chase down COCOBOD just to get paid what they’re worth. Yep, it’s giving big “What are we even doing here?” vibes, and the farmers are over it. They want COCOBOD to finally cough up some accountability. Read more

DEEP DIVE

The Drivers tried it.

The Concerned Drivers Association woke up this morning and decided, “Yep, it’s time for a 15% fare bump!” They said fuel, spare parts, and even the price of pure water have all shot up, so fares should follow suit. But hold up—Deputy Transport Minister Hassan Tampuli is here like, “Guys, did y’all get the memo? Prices are actually stable.” He’s out here on national TV talking about Ghana having some of the lowest petrol prices in the world and said there’s “no basis” for a fare hike right now. Cue the “did you feel that, or is it just me?” look from the drivers.

You know the Concerned Drivers Association wasn’t having it. Their PR guy, David Agboado, came back swinging. He basically asked if Mr. Tampuli is even living in Ghana, because hello, vehicle prices have more than doubled, and spare parts prices are up over 50%. He’s saying they’re trying to keep their biz afloat, not run a free ride service. In his words, they’re transporters, not a “charity-running organization.” Oof. I guess even the Transport Ministry can’t stop the hustle mindset.

Now, if you thought the saga would end there, GPRTU (that’s the Ghana Private Road Transport Union) had to jump in. They called out the Concerned Drivers, saying they can’t just go rogue with fare adjustments like it’s some freestyle jama session. They claim there’s a whole process—spreadsheets, consultations, number crunching—before they decide if prices should go up. GPRTU’s Imoro Abass says if you didn’t consult the stakeholders, you’ve basically got nada on fare increases.

At this point, it’s like watching a very confusing game of Monopoly where one player tries to set rent at $1,500, but the banker says, “Nope, that’s not in the rules.” So, the next time you hop into a trotro, just remember: your fare’s staying put for now, but the drama? That’s free of charge, and it’s definitely not in short supply. Read more

Family Business?

At his latest Governance Forum, Mahama went full “say it with your chest,” calling out Akufo-Addo for stacking key positions with his own family members and homies like he’s afraid to scroll through his contact list. According to Mahama, it’s like the government has gone from a team effort to “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” starring everyone in Akufo-Addo’s family tree.

Mahama’s point is, Ghana isn’t lacking in smart, qualified folks to run the show. And while every family’s got that one relative who thinks they can fix anything, Mahama insists that a government shouldn't look like it was recruited at a family BBQ. Sure, maybe your cousin is great with numbers, but does that mean he should be handling national accounts? He’s not buying the idea that Akufo-Addo’s circle is just so talented that only his crew can make it to the big leagues.

Back in his day (cue flashback music), he says his cabinet wasn’t exactly a family tree. His only relative in office? His spokesperson, who, by the way, didn’t get her spot by slipping Mahama extra banku at family dinners. According to him, his hires were all about skill, not bloodlines, and he wants to see that same energy in the current administration. Read more

NEWS SOURCES

Today’s stories are curated from: