Vibes and Inshallah

Who runs a country like that?

Author

Chale News
December 20, 2024

So, what’s in the bag today?

  • National: A whole toll-free hotline to snitch on corruption? Ghana just went full Crime Scene Investigation.

  • National: Ato Forson says our Finance Minister could end up in Nsawam prison if the mini-budget doesn’t show up ASAP.

  • National: Ghana’s energy sector is on life support, and Dr. Mahama’s prepping for major surgery.

  • Education: WAEC gets GH¢25M from the government, but it’s like giving iced water to a bushfire.

  • Politics: Old Tafo MP Calls for US backup over election wahala.

  • Fact of the Day: Who knew a phone number could be bad luck?

  • National: Ghana Immigration Service says fake news about e-Gates costing $240M deserves its own “Access Denied” screen.

  • Sports: Gladson Awako spills the tea: Hearts of Oak didn’t vibe with his rising clout.

QUICK BYTE

  • You’re in a group project, and one person keeps saying, “Relax, everything’s fine,” while the deadline looms and the PowerPoint is blank. That’s the energy sector, and Mahama’s calling out the guy in charge. During a sit-down with Canada’s High Commissioner, Myriam Montrat, the President-elect didn’t hold back. He described the state of the energy sector as needing “urgent surgery.” A $2.5 billion debt is sitting there like a freeloading houseguest. Mahama didn’t stop at diagnosing the problem; he called out the outgoing government. “You can’t turn the economy around with vibes and Inshallah.” Read more

  • You’re chilling in your house, sipping on your evening sobolo, when you remember that your neighbor—let’s call him Mr. Big Fish—has been driving a flashy new car that’s suspiciously not on a civil servant’s salary. Thanks to President-elect Mahama’s new Anti-Corruption hotline, you can now dial 0800 900 111 and report Mr. Big Fish. They’ve got options. Like, if you’re too shy for phone calls (or just hate talking to humans), there’s a website—oraigh.org—where you can quietly type out your suspicions. And for the email gang, there’s [email protected]. The team swears that everything will be a secret. Read more

  • The government just sent GH¢25 million WAEC’s way, which is great... until you remember the full bill is GH¢118 million. Dr. Clement Apaak called it a “drop in the ocean,” and honestly, he’s not wrong. WAEC needs this cash to repair scanners for marking WASSCE results, but it’s clear they’ll need more than pocket change to keep things running. WAEC’s warning? Pay up soon, or the 2024 WASSCE results might arrive later than your favorite food delivery on a rainy day. Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section below

  • Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam’s “casper-the-ghost” act in Parliament isn’t sitting well with the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. Apparently, skipping four sittings when Ghana needs a mini-budget for 2025 is a one-way ticket to legal trouble—and possibly jail time. Forson’s message? Stop ghosting, show up, and do your job before Parliament turns into Prison Break: Ghana Edition. Read more

FACT OF THE DAY

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Bulgarian phone number 0888 888 888 has been suspended after every person has used it in the last 20 years has died.

  • Old Tafo MP, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has spilled all the tea in a letter to the US Embassy, detailing how NPP candidates allegedly faced WWE-style takedowns in nine constituencies after Vice President Dr. Bawumia conceded defeat to John Dramani Mahama. According to him, the NDC brought the heat with armed invasions, bullying, and ballot drama that could rival any Nollywood script. Take Okaikwei Central, for instance. Assafuah claims the Returning Officer got the full “taken hostage”. Read more

  • Social media was buzzing with claims that the shiny new e-Gates at Kotoka International Airport cost Ghana $240 million. But the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has entered the chat to set the record straight: It’s $1.7 million for the e-Gates, not a dollar more. The $240 million figure, GIS explained, covers a decade-long project upgrading Ghana’s 48 border points. Read more

  • It’s not every day you hear a player say, “They kicked me out because I was too powerful.” But that’s exactly how Gladson Awako described his dramatic exit from Hearts of Oak, where he wore the captain’s armband, lifted an FA Cup, and apparently ruffled some feathers along the way. Read more

DEEP DIVE

GH¢25 million might sound like a lot, but when the debt is GH¢118 million, it’s more like tipping with coins.

WAEC is hosting a potluck, and the government shows up with a pack of biscuits when they were asked to bring jollof for 118 people. That’s basically the mood right now.

Dr. Clement Apaak, Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Education Committee, spilled the tea on Eyewitness News—the government’s issued a GH¢25 million cheque to WAEC. Great news, right? Except, WAEC is owed a cool GH¢118 million. You don’t need to be a math genius to see that this payment barely scratches the surface.

WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, also chimed in, explaining the cash will help pay technicians to repair scanners needed to mark objective papers. So yeah, it’s not a “thank you for your patience” situation; it’s more like a “this will keep the lights on for now” vibe.

The clock is ticking, though. WAEC has made it clear—no money, no results. And if the scanners aren’t fixed pronto, marking delays could mean students waiting longer than a trotro ride in peak Accra traffic for their WASSCE results.

Meanwhile, Dr. Apaak didn’t hold back, calling the payment a “drop in the ocean.” He’s basically saying what we’re all thinking: This partial payment isn’t fixing the problem; it’s just delaying a bigger showdown. Read more

NEWS SOURCES

Today’s stories are curated from: