What is it? Haven't you done enough?

Question of the day:

If time flies when you’re having fun, why does it crawl when you’re in a meeting? You too think about it, if you find the answer, go to our IG page Chale_news and tell us.

Speaking of time, let’s catch up on today’s updates.

• Business: Ghanaian businesses are screaming “I can’t breathe!” as taxes pile up like list of topics to be read before exams.

• National: Labour unions preparing for galamsey protest.

• Economic: Naa Delle’s saying if we don’t protect the press, democracy’s heading straight for a “404 Error Not Found.”

• Politics: ECG’s biggest problem is high-key political meddling, and it’s making the lights (and the money) flicker.

• Fact of the Day: Did you know flamingos bend their legs at the ankle, not the knee?

• Economic: As if things weren’t already tight, GUTA says the latest utility hikes are about to give our wallets a serious workout.

• Crime: Two ex-cops, one civilian, and an iPhone that’s definitely not coming back. Guess who’s doing 30 years?

• Crime: Samuel Inkoom’s fraud case gets so wild, even his favorite bar had to be like, ‘Nah, we’re not with him.’

• Politics: Alan Kyerematen just dropped a 10-point plan to say "bye-bye" to galamsey, and it’s more ambitious than your friend’s New Year resolutions!

• National: When the government’s spending spree has workers feeling more neglected than your last relationship, you know it’s time for some serious change!

QUICK BYTE

• So, you know how it feels when your data finishes mid-movie streaming? Yeah, that's how Ghanaian businesses are feeling right now, thanks to suffocating taxes. Mark Badu-Aboagye, the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, is out here waving a giant red flag. He basically told the government, "Yo, these taxes ain’t it," especially with all the IMF baggage dragging them down. Want the deets in full? Check out the Deep Dive section.

• Welp, Ghanaians are in for another round of utility price hikes, and GUTA is not having it. With electricity up by 3.02% and water by 1.86%, they’re wondering how much more our wallets can take. According to GUTA's Joseph Paddy, this is just going to make an already tough cost of living even tougher. He’s questioning the timing, like, “Who thought this was a good idea right now?” Especially since gas prices, exchange rates, and inflation are the reasons being tossed around for the hike. Read more in the Deep Dive Section.

• It’s about to get spicy! Labour unions are hitting pause on their usual grind to put the government on blast for ghosting them on the whole galamsey issue. If you haven’t heard, illegal mining is turning Ghana’s water bodies into something else. And these unions? They’re madder than when your phone dies at 1%. They’re ready to storm the streets unless the president snaps out of it and declares a state of emergency to deal with the chaos. So what’s on the agenda for tomorrow? It’s D-Day for the unions. All the big bosses from various associations are gathering to discuss the next moves for their protest. Read more

• So, journalism, the "lifeblood of democracy," is now giving “underpaid intern trying to keep the whole company running” vibes . Naa Prof. Delle isn’t here for it. The chief from Nandom Traditional Area came through with a mic-drop moment at the GJA Awards, calling out the rising threats against journalists. You know, the people who are just out here trying to keep us informed without getting yeeted off the press freedom charts. Ghana’s fallen from 30th to 60th in the World Press Freedom Index, and it’s looking like a slippery slope. Naa Delle’s point? We need to protect the press before democracy gets ghosted. Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section below

• ECG’s revenue is tanking, and it’s not because they don’t know what they’re doing. Nope, the real villain of this story? Political interference. Think of it like you trying to save money but your mum keeps borrowing and never pays back (because she carried you for 9 months), lol. Unless someone hits pause on all this political control, ECG’s money problems are only going to get worse—and that’s a big deal for the whole country, not just the lights in your house. Read more

• So, Mahama just dropped a bombshell at a town hall, calling out the government for trying to sneak in an $800 million gas processing contract. He’s worried it could end up like that one bad financial decision you regret for years, causing major cash problems and judgment debts for the country. Plus, he’s all about taking this to Parliament for some real oversight—none of that hush-hush, behind-the-scenes signing business. He basically told the government, “Don’t sign it. If you sign this and it blows up in our faces, you’re gonna pay for it.” So yeah, things are heating up! Read more

• Two ex-security officers (a soldier and a policeman) and one civilian just got served with a whole 30-year jail term for pulling a robbery that sounds like something out of a poorly written crime show. The plot? So they pull up in a taxi, flash some uniforms (like, who still falls for that?), and kidnap a nurse in broad daylight. In broad daylight! They cart her off to some shady area near the University of Ghana Medical Centre and straight-up tased her. Yep, these wannabe bandits thought they were in an action movie. They took her GHC 40,700, her iPhone 11 Pro Max and left her handcuffed in the bushes. Anyway, the court wasn’t having it. So now, they’re spending the next three decades in a place with bars that don’t serve drinks. Read more

• So, Alan Kyerematen, the presidential candidate for the Alliance for Revolutionary Change, just revealed a master plan to tackle Ghana’s galamsey crisis. His plan includes a one-year ban on all small-scale mining, restoring our environment, cancelling small-scale mining licenses issued over the last 15 years, and an audit to uncover any corruption and shady dealings that have been flying under the radar. And if that isn’t enough to convince you that Kyerematen means business, he’s pushing for life sentences for anyone caught mining in rivers and forests. Read more

• Austin Gamey just pointed out that Ghana’s labour scene is looking chaotic with unions like TUSAAG and FUSAAG popping off strikes like they’re launching fireworks. It’s like they’ve been ghosted by the government while the politicians are busy throwing cash around like confetti at a wedding. Gamey ain’t holding back, calling out the government for its clear prioritization of campaign spending over resolving the issues that are literally affecting hundreds of workers. Gamey’s stressing that these vibes of neglect are making the situation ripe for more strikes. Anyone can see this is a recipe for disaster. If the government doesn’t start prioritizing those who keep the country running, we might find ourselves in a full-blown labour revolt. Read more

DEEP DIVE

Business Bros Beg for Mercy!

You’re hustling, trying to make ends meet, and then BAM, the government slaps you with taxes so high, it feels painful and confusing. That’s exactly what Ghanaian businesses are going through, according to the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Mark Badu-Aboagye. On national TV, he said it straight, calling the tax regime a suffocating nightmare. Not only are the taxes high, but there are new ones, courtesy of the IMF, that are like those pop-up ads that just won’t go away. Badu-Aboagye is basically telling the government, "Bro, chill out with the tax pressure; we're gasping for air over here!"

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Ghana’s VAT system enters the chat. Badu-Aboagye said it’s so unique, you won’t find anything like it anywhere else in the world. Yup, it’s that wild.

Now, what do you do when your taxes are as extra as a reality TV fight? You avoid them, duh! According to Badu-Aboagye, the higher and more complicated the taxes get, the more businesses are going to go full ninja mode—evading and avoiding them like it’s a game of hide and seek. He’s got a point though. High taxes make compliance feel like a burden, not a responsibility. Think about it: would you rather pay outrageous taxes or find sneaky loopholes to keep your money in check? Exactly.

And in the end, it all boils down to this: Badu-Aboagye says we need taxes to fund the country, sure, but let’s not get crazy. Taxes should help businesses grow, not bury them alive. Lower the rates, simplify the system, and guess what? More businesses will start paying up without trying to pull a disappearing act. Because really, at the end of the day, businesses just want to vibe, thrive, and not feel like they’re stuck in an endless loop of tax headaches. Read more

Press Freedom? More Like Press Distress!

Imagine being the one tasked with keeping the squad informed, but instead of applause, you’re dodging threats like a villain in an action movie. That’s the vibe our journalists are stuck with, and Naa Prof. Edmund Delle isn't having it. Speaking at the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards, he came through with a whole TED Talk on why journalism is the heartbeat of our democracy. But this lifeblood is starting to look like it's on life support.

The stats are giving “yikes” energy. Ghana dropped from 30th to 60th on the World Press Freedom Index in just one year. Let that sink in. It’s like watching your fave show get progressively worse each season. The violence, intimidation, and harassment against journalists are up, and trust me, nobody's asking for these. From arrests to beatdowns, journos are out here facing it all, and Naa Delle is sounding the alarm before things hit rock bottom.

The homie Naa Delle didn’t just throw numbers at the audience—he painted a picture of what it’s like on the ground. Journalists are covering breaking stories with their own phones, and some don’t even have enough cash to take a trotro to the scene. Yeah, it's that bad.

As we roll toward the 2024 elections, Naa Delle sent a big reminder to the media to keep it 100% real—be fair, accurate, and don’t get caught slipping. He also called out political leaders and security agencies to step up and actually protect these unsung heroes. ‘Cause let’s be real, how are we going to have a free and fair election when the people asking the tough questions are dodging threats left and right? Read more

It’s About to Get Even Tougher Out Here!

Water is going up by 1.86%, and electricity? A whole 3.02%. Yeah, it’s not sounding fun, especially when the cost of living already feels like a never-ending uphill climb.

GUTA’s Joseph Paddy is pretty much side-eyeing the whole thing. He’s out here asking, “Who caused the exchange rate to go up in the first place?” The answer isn’t in sight, but what’s clear is that this tariff increase is just making everything more expensive—again. Paddy’s argument is simple: if prices keep climbing, people’s purchasing power is going to shrink even more. He’s warning that this move will make the cost of living unbearable for everyday Ghanaians, especially with inflation and gas prices already doing the most.

Now, let’s talk about timing. Paddy’s also taking a jab at that, like, “Really? Right now?” With the economy already stretched thin, he feels the decision-makers could’ve chosen a better moment. It’s like adding salt to an already gaping wound, leaving Ghanaians wondering just how much more they’re going to have to squeeze out of their pockets.

At the end of the day, GUTA’s message is loud and clear: unless something changes, these tariff hikes are about to make living in Ghana even pricier. And with everyday folks already feeling the pinch, this could be the final straw for many. Read more

CHECK OUT WHAT’S TRENDING

• Samuel Inkoom’s fraud case gets so wild, even his favorite bar had to be like, ‘Nah, we’re not with him.’

• Aburi Girls’ Headmistress passes away while representing Ghana in Rome.

• GJA President Albert Dwumfour calls out Akufo-Addo for letting galamsey run wild—three months left to make a change!

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