Where are the men?

This ain’t the type of gender equality we signed up for.

Author

Chale News
February 12, 2025

So, what’s in the bag today?

  • Health: HIV numbers in Bono Region are looking like a nightclub ratio—too many women, not enough men.

  • National: Mahama just fired the director of an invisible port—because how do you mismanage something that doesn’t exist?

  • National: Oil marketers say Ghana’s Gold-for-Oil policy helped fuel prices the way ice cream helps heartbreak—barely.

  • National: Seidu Agongo just found out the hard way that in Ghana, you can be charged as two separate people—yourself and your own company.

  • National: USAID ghosted Ghana, leaving a $156M bill, and now Mahama is telling Ato Forson, “Make it work.”

  • Fact of the Day: What’s going on with forty?

  • National: Council of State: Advisors or Spectators?

  • National: Heads are probably going to roll at CSIR.

QUICK BYTE

  • The HIV stats in Bono Region are looking mad lopsided—out of 11,401 cases, 8,481 are women, and only 2,727 are men (the HIV must believe in gender-based affirmative action cos eiiii). This is not the kind of "women in leadership" we were hoping for. Ghana Health Service says everyone is getting treatment, but a good chunk of people are dodging viral load tests like it’s a debt collector’s call. Read more

  • Mahama just sacked the Director of Keta Port, Dr. Alexander Adusei, the now ex-Director of Keta Port, a project that has been more of a PowerPoint presentation than an actual port. To be fair, the Keta Port was supposed to be a big deal. Back in 2018, the Akufo-Addo government officially picked Keta as the site for the port, and everyone was expecting some serious coastal development. Instead, what they got was... eight years of vibes. Not a single block has been laid. No lighthouse. No dock. Not even one stubborn fisherman claiming ownership of the land. Just pure sea breeze and disappointment. Read more

  • You know when your parents claim their prayers got you an A, but in reality, you just studied? That’s exactly how oil marketers feel about Ghana’s Gold-for-Oil (G4O) policy and the recent fuel price drops. The government had been hyping G4O like it was the next big brain solution to fuel inflation, but the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) just said, “Nah fam.” Get the 411 in the Deep Dive section below

  • Seidu Agongo is big mad because not only did the government charge his company, Agricult Ghana, in the COCOBOD trial, but they also turned around and slapped him personally with the same charges. The man basically said, “So, me and my company are the same person when it's time for punishment? But when it’s time for salary, I should separate us? After six years in court, the Attorney General just said, “Lol, forget it.” and dropped the charges. Agongo still has questions. Why was he charged twice? Why did this drag for six years just to be dropped? Is he getting a refund for the lawyer money? Read more

FACT OF THE DAY

❝

Forty is the only number whose letters are in alphabetical order.

  • You’ve been chilling with your rich friend, living large, eating free food, and enjoying life—then one day, they just cut you off, no warning. That’s exactly how Ghana’s health sector is feeling right now after USAID pulled the plug on $156 million in funding. And now, President Mahama is side-eyeing Finance Minister Ato Forson like, “Fix it, bro.” See, this isn’t some small money we’re talking about—this funding was handling maternal health, HIV/AIDS, family planning, and childbirth. In short, if you’re born in Ghana, this money probably played a role in your arrival. But now? The tap is dry. And the effects are already showing—essential medical supplies aren’t getting to the northern regions, and health programs are looking shaky. Read more

  • Everyone calls you "Admin" in the WhatsApp group but all you do is suggest vibes—you can’t mute people, you can’t remove anyone, and worst of all, no one actually listens to you. That’s basically the Council of State right now, and Muhammed Mumuni is tired of it. Freshly elected as the Northern Regional representative, Mumuni wants more power. According to him, the Council has been reduced to a suggestion box—advising presidents who can choose to listen… or just ghost them like an ex they’re over. And after 30 years of democracy, he’s wondering: shouldn’t they be doing more than just talking to the President behind closed doors? Read more

  • A classic case of "I said don’t do it"—and they did it anyway. CSIR Governing Council members are in hot water for allegedly ignoring a court injunction and appointing a new Acting Director while the case was still pending. All the tea is in the deep dive section.

DEEP DIVE

Gold-for-Oil? More Like Gold-for-Vibes

According to the oil marketers, G4O did about 10% of the work when it started and 30% at its peak. Which means it wasn’t really carrying the team—more like that one group member who shows up at the end and claims credit. The real MVP? Global oil prices. Between November 2022 and June 2023, crude oil prices dropped, and fuel prices followed like a broke friend when you say ‘I got you.’ G4O just happened to be there at the same time, but did it actually do anything?

And it’s not just fuel prices. Inflation in Ghana dropped from 54% in 2022 to 23.5% in 2025, and some people are out here saying, “Thank you, G4O!” Meanwhile, COMAC is shaking their heads like a disappointed teacher in a WhatsApp group. They say inflation and fuel prices were already going down because of global trends, not some gold-powered miracle.

So, did G4O help? Maybe a little. But was it the reason fuel prices dropped? According to COMAC, not even close. It’s like when a DJ pretends the party was lit because of his set, but really, it was the free drinks. Read more

It’s a showdown

Dr. Seth Awuku Manteaw, Director of the CSIR Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (INSTI), went to court in March 2024 to stop his removal. He filed an injunction to freeze any attempts to replace him while his case was pending. But the Council went ahead and did it anyway, appointing his deputy, Dr. Paul Danquah, as Acting Director in June 2024.

Now, Manteaw is saying, “Enough is enough!” and wants the court to throw the 21 Council members in jail for contempt.

The court has ordered all parties to submit their arguments within two weeks, with a final ruling set for March 19, 2025. But this isn’t just a legal battle—it’s a showdown between institutional authority and judicial power.

If the court rules in Manteaw’s favor, CSIR bigwigs could face serious consequences for allegedly disregarding a court order. But if they get off the hook, it might set a precedent for how far institutions can push legal boundaries.

Will the judges crack the whip or let this slide? March 19 will tell. Read more

NEWS SOURCES

Today’s stories are curated from: