Straight News

  Hon. Bernard Mornah, 2024 Flagbearer, PNC The name Ibrahim Mahama has, over the years, gained remarkable prominence within Ghana’s public space. Through his mining engineering firm, Engineers and Planners, he has played a significant role in providing mining support services to some of the largest mining operations not only in Ghana but across the African continent. Founded in 1997, Engineers and Planners has grown steadily through hard work, resilience, and an exceptional vision for success. As founder and CEO, Ibrahim Mahama has consistently demonstrated the courage to venture into areas many entrepreneurs shy away from, navigating both financial and technical risks in his quest to build a truly indigenous company capable of competing on the global stage. The success of Engineers and Planners in today’s natural resource sector should not be taken lightly. It represents more than corporate growth; it is a symbol of Ghanaian capability and enterprise. As a nation, we must recogn...

  The 2026 budget will go down in history as a budget that resonates the Ghanaian citizens.   It gives an economic transformational feeling and deepens the faith of many in the John Dramani Mahama government in delivery its promises (Building the Ghana We Want).    *Revenue*  Revenue generating has been a headache for past governments. Government largely relies on tax and borrowing many a times in generating revenue. Government in 2026 has projected Ghc 286.1 billion consisting of tax Ghc 216.2 billion. In the same year where government has abolished COVID 19 tax, reformed VAT, increased VAT threshold from Ghc 200,000 to Ghc 750,000 annual turn over and many more. Government has reformed taxes examined to be burdensome on citizens which are COVID 19 levy in 2026 which brings in Ghc 3.7 billion. This means government is given Ghc 3.7 billion back to Ghanaians. Are you not surprised? In a country where tax revenue constitutes major part of total revenue, governmen...

Dear CITI FM,  RE- DISCUSSION ON THE TERMINATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF A CAREER PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICER  I am a concerned citizen.  There has been a series of discussions on your esteemed station regarding the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), particularly about job lay-offs and termination of appointments. Obviously, most of the facts are misrepresented by those who made these allegations.  The most recent was a discussion on your Morning Show about the termination of the appointment of a staff member via a letter from the Presidency,  insinuating it had been politically motivated and that the government was undermining public service.  Here are the facts and questions for the said officer to answer:  1. Was he not appointed a Director in 2020 via a letter from the President signed by the then Secretary to the President, Mr Nana Bediatuo Asante? (copy of letter available and can be made available if the truth is contested) 2. At the time of his appointme...

  DEMOCRACY, literally means, rule by the people. The term is derived from the Greek word demokratia, which was coined from demos meaning” people” and kratos meaning “rule” in middle of the 5th century BCE to denote the political systems in some Greek city-states, notably Athens. It is therefore a system of government in which laws, policies, leadership, and major decisions of a state or other polity are directly or indirectly decided by the people. Democracy is not necessarily about elections, but the fair distributing of the national cake, protection and respect of human rights, tolerance of varies views, and more. A POLITICAL MYOPIA refers to the tendency of politicians to prioritize short-term gains over long-term benefits of the general good. The concept is often used to describe the narrow focus of politicians on their next election or political survival, rather than considering the broader implications of their decisions on the general public. This narrow focus is re-electio...

I must applaud central government on the DRIP project initiative. There is no doubt that it will make greater impact in our road sector and one of the best forms of decentralization every assembly member appreciates. It is a fact that, these machines were procured by central government through the ministry of local government and decentralization. Assembly members' motor bikes are procured through same structures, the MPs V8, the MMDCEs vehicles and many other machines were procured through same means and were not branded any party colour. This is not the first time we are seeing such machines from central government. My Hon. DCEs office and bangalow is not branded party colours neither the MPs office is branded party colours. Why are we pasting posters of party colours and parliamentary candidates on our machines? I am therefore calling on the Hon. Mp, Anthony Mwinkaara Sumah and all sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the NPP parliamentray candidate, Francis X...

We must look at our educational system with a different lens. We were taught in basic school that the colonial masters built schools, hospitals, railways, and many others. The education system failed greatly to temper our emotions about the so-called good things they did. Because of this, we are not able to feel the pain of facing reality. So we grew up with the feeling that they did more good than bad for us. This reminds me of the words of Professor Briamah of Tamale, who says, "We have to rethink, as Ghanaians, the kind of things we teach our children." Let me emphatically state that there is nothing impactful about the colonial masters. The first two hospitals that were built in Ghana by the colonial masters are the Kolebu Hospital, Ridge Hospital, and the Psychiatric Hospital, all in the Greater Accra region. The first two (Kolebu Hospital and Ridge Hospital) were built for their own interests and never for the good people of this country. If they could carry these, they...

  i) When you're at a distance, and most especially, a party fanatic, you're most likely to judge the venerable speaker in bad light but when all the jamborees, cacophonous, infantile tantrums dim and your wield adrenaline recede to normalcy, you would realise(even though you wouldn't muster same courage/boldness to put out your latter favorable judgement), that, the sagacious and conscientious speaker, isn't just carrying grey hair like many because it's a natural given, vis-à-vis old age but his grey hair is a classical and a thunderous illustration/demonstration of brobdingnagian wisdom, knowledge and avalanche of  experience! Ghana would have been long combusted into unrecognizable ashes if we were having a partisan extremist and an ego satisfier as speaker, vis-à-vis this very egoistic, clueless, visionless, unempathetic, insensitive and materials driven govt. ii) The current speaker in this hung Parliament of Ghana (first ever in Ghana, and prolly Africa), isn...

  i) Prolly, after president  Nana Addo-Bawumia led NPP exit and or when His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama isn't longer in active politics! Where were the so-called National Peace Council(NPC) and all the sudden-peace-loving-cymbals when Dr. Bawumia condescendingly labelled His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama as " Mallam John" on a very national Islamic program heralded by our serene and venerated national chief Imam? Dr. Bawumia(the so-called religious tolerant and unifier) saw it prudent to denigrate president JM before Muslim congregation and in an insidious and diabolical way, campaigned to Muslims, that JM isn't one of them and he's only forcing to mimic them(Muslims) with '2/4' Qu'ran recitation(that was the import of his infantile behavior and body language).  NO, and i repeat, NO sensitive and wise so-called Muslim-religious-tolerant and unifier veep would have used such a high national, and religious platform to make mocker...

Yengliareh Baniventure, Youth Activist and polling station secretary, NPP It has come to our realization that some big wings in our dear party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) are intimidating party executives to follow a particular candidate of their choice come this flagbearer election 2023 November. We the grass roots are sounding a clear warning to them that, they cannot change the party's constitution, and they cannot force anybody in the party to do what he or she is not willing to do. So for that matter they should allow every individual or person who is an executive or delegate to make his or her choice of candidate.  On this note, before I proceed with my article, I will like to quote exactly what our party's constitution state without leaving a word. "The New Patriotic Party is a party that stands to liberate the energies of the people for growth of a property- owning democracy in this land, with right to life, freedom and Justice as the principle to which the Governm...

   In the solemnity of the Easter tridum, a hot air from the dishonourable MP for Abetifi (US military fuel pump attendant Rtd. - Bryan Acheampong), almost distorted my deep sense of reflection, solicitude and contrition to Christ Jesus who was crucified on the cross of calvary to redeem us of sins. I quickly put on my spiritual amour, to insulate myself from being destructed, as I immediately remembered that, "The fire on which God prepares his dinner, the devil also desires to roast his salted fish on". I refused to yield to any impish manipulation.  Gradually, the zeal of Easter is settling and I find it appropriate to share a bit of caution to the dishonourable man, who appeared to have taken leave of his senses or perhaps got inebriated with new wine when he was pouring out that hot air.  The NDC and its legion of Comrades are not oblivious of the fact that, "from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" ( Mt 12 :34) We know that the rantings of Bryan ...

  Dear Voting Youth Delegates - NDC, I bring you all, fellow Delegates, a heartwarm greetings from my humble chalet, faraway in the  Northern part of Ghana - Lawra, Upper West Region, to be precise. Needless to ask, how are you all faring in these moments of unprecedented severe strife, for I am all here with you and I am also feeling it big time but permit me to still ask anyway. Fellow Delegates, notwithstanding all that we are milling through, I humbly invite you all to deeply ponder upon the below following, as we itch towards our internal party congress;   1. Fellow Delegates, going into the most crucial elections ever in our annals, I mean, the 2024 general elections, we more than ever, need a strategic, honest, fearless, trustworthy,  grassroots plan-man, party security conscious man, revolutionary minded, and a rabid NDC loyalist to spearhead the green [🇰🇼] army into the battlefield without any little form of fear or favor, and also without the propensity o...

  Banks are reporting a shortage of FX to meet payments of maturing Letters of Credit (LCs) issued to international oil trading companies such as BP Vitol,  Trafigura etc etc This is due to Bank of Ghana’s inability to meet requirements at the various FX auctions. Some Banks have even stopped quoting FX rates as there is simply no availability for the quantities required by the fuel importers (BDCs). This is causing BDC‘s to max out their credit-line limits with their banks, and the implication is that the banks will no longer have credit lines available for the BDC’s to import fuel going forward. Banks also are running the risk of maxing out their credit-lines with their corresponding foreign banks that confirm (or guarantee) the local banks’  trade instruments such as Documentary LCs and Standby LCs (aka Guarantees). This could prove very disastrous for the country as essential imports could come to a grinding halt.  Government needs to act decisively and quickly b...

Inflation reflects cost structure distortion and painful downgrade of disposable income of income earners.  Thus, inflation rate of 29.8%  cannot be good news for Ghana.  When the inflation rate is underpinned by transport, water and food prices then you should note that cost of living has become unbearable for average households.  The middle income bracket are also complaining, breakfast, lunch and supper for Senior High School students have become difficult. Eating patterns of average households are deteriorating very fast. Implementing government have become costly leading to abandonment of projects and stagnation of business efforts. Government and employers must show genuine empathy to cushion workers. COLA is the name. Disregard of the request by workers  will inability to recognize the massive erosion of  business capital and socioeconomic pains. Strikes are are expression of painful experiences of disregard over a period of time relating to erosion ...

  This is our Nation's Coat of Arms. To be simple, like a school's badge, the Ghana Coat of Arms is the badge of Ghana that identifies it. It also tells the motto, what it stands for. As we can see, the motto of Ghana FREEDOM AND JUSTICE is conspicuously written under the shield. Now, here are the points I want to make.  Honourable Lawyer Richard Badombie who was a true and law-abiding citizen of Ghana got robbed of his FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT [ RIGHT TO LIFE] in the course of exercising his FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT from Accra to Jirapa. From the motto on our Nation's Coat of Arms, what is left after he was denied his FREEDOM ? Not JUSTICE? Is JUSTICE automatic in this country? As concerned as we are as people of Jirapa and the Upper West Region and even beyond, how effective are we pushing for justice to be served? Are we playing to the gallery or we are really pushing hard to get justice for our slain son? Of course, I remember that this is the second case in one year that we ...

  Recently, some youth and journalists within the Otikokoosuo land were and are still insanely up and verbally armed to the teeth and went gun blazing against the akyem coterie leader(Nana Addo) govt for being an anti Ashantemane development govt.     But come to think of it, s3bi o, aren't these Ashanti guys ungrateful and therefore up painting Nana Addo govt black??   Because, the same NPP, that most, if not all unalloyed Ashantes spontaneously love inutro and forever vow to support till thy kingdom come has among its believes as A PROPERTY(IES) OWNING DEMOCRACY.   So, the question we(compos mentis homosapiens) must start asking these unrepentant NPP Ashantes is, how many of them ever bother to check or ask for the real meaning of PROPERTY(IES) OWNING DEMOCRACY??   Or they think PROPERTY OWNING mean PROPERTY(IES) to be owned by the majority? Big No, it simply meant, PROPERTY(IES) OWNED by the negligible minority in power!   So they should tame their ...

While they raise shoulders in Vietnam 3-piece suit, in insane opaque glasses and in your tax-printed t-shirts and caps and eloquently read, prolly plagiarised ear-itching speeches in purport of afforestation to gain your claps and shouts, their mysterious flying EXCAVATORS are out deep in our dotted forest doing the direct opposite, deforestation. When will most Ghanaians ever think straight, deep(critically) and in between the lines and talk loud without being sensured  like yesteryears?, Is a question for both the gods of the Achimota forest and "our independent fighters region"(eastern) where every good policy must be piloted before thinking of the other 15regions.    Did i hear you muttered, that, they will shamelessly do so when their most loathed/abhorred person(JM) and party(NDC) helms GHANA's affairs??   Well, it is said,that we only climb a tree to see what's going and not what's coming because, certainly what's coming will meet you standing. So, lets...

Herh, Umoufia is indeed interestingly incredible!!  Do not under-rate and/or underestimate this HEIST gang parading around as chiefdom officials oo, they got all their Machiavellian tactics and antics rolled up their sleeves. They have painstakingly researched and studied Umoufians level of thinking, capacity of thinking, patten(mono-linear way) of thinking and they know the fear instilling buttons and they know how, where and when to press them. With a drop of a neonate urine-liked of RAIN, homo sapiens, their livelihood belongings, and their decades sweat achievements, habitats, hospitals, buses, stores, supermarkets etc are being swept away into the scavenging sea. Homo sapiens lives are at stake, no food to eat and no place to lay their cephalics. Yet HEIST gang masquerading as chiefdom officials are unfazed, talkless of show of sympathy or empathy because, it isn't a chiefdom threat to the HEIST gang, after all, they fly, dine-wine and bath in the skies and live on high lands!...

 It is a long piece but it will worth your time. Building a personal brand is more important now than ever before, as the world switches to gig economy and so much of our work is turning freelance. We need to be able to define ourselves and sell ourselves, and that all begins with a personal brand.  What is a Brand? There’s a lot of misconceptions as to what “brand” means. It’s not a logo, it’s not a jingle. It’s not a slogan or a catchphrase. A brand is defined as the sum total of all the impressions that people has of you. In other words, every single interaction that you have with your people, from phone calls to business cards to social media to services performed, all make up your brand. When you are building a personal brand, you are actually creating the message that you want people to get from all of those interactions.  So, for example, if your business cards are polished and sophisticated, but your social media looks scanty  and your relationship with peopl...