Deep Dive: Stories from The Labari Journal

Debate: iShowSpeed and Ghana’s Selective Hospitality

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:55:04 GMT

While isShowSpeed's tour showcased national heritage and the country’s vibrant culture to millions of global viewers, it simultaneously highlighted a perceived disconnect between official priorities and the daily hardships of local citizens.

The debaters argue that while foreign celebrities enjoy private helicopters, elite security, and expedited citizenship, the general population continues to struggle with broken infrastructure, economic inequality, and environmental crises like illegal mining

This was created using Google NotebookLM

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Researcher Says Architecture of Ghanaian High Schools Plays a Factor In Modern Class Division

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:03:18 GMT

This episode delves into the research of Dr. Kuukuwa Manful, who argues that the architecture and physical design of Ghanaian high schools significantly contribute to modern class division. Dr. Manful's work, drawing from published papers and an upcoming book, suggests that these school spaces—tracing their origins to colonial forts and fortified educational institutions—teach students social hierarchy and perpetuate deep-seated inequalities..

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What You Need To Know About Ghana's Black Volta Mines Controversy

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:15:00 GMT

This episode explores the complex and contentious dispute surrounding Ghana's Black Volta gold mine, a project with significant reserves that remains undeveloped due to ongoing legal battles. Ibaera Capital, the current owner, accuses Engineers & Planners (E&P), a politically connected Ghanaian firm, of an unauthorized corporate takeover, including the alleged transfer of shares without payment.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's SOEs: Revenue Growth, Mounting Losses

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 19:00:25 GMT

This episode examines the mixed financial performance of Ghana's State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and other public entities in 2024, as detailed in the State Ownership Report. While SOEs experienced a significant 28% revenue growth, they simultaneously recorded a substantial net loss, largely due to high interest payments.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Ghana Winning Its War On Corruption?

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:48:28 GMT

This episode focuses on the half-year report of Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). It highlights the agency's efforts to combat corruption, detailing seven convictions, significant fund recoveries, and ongoing investigations into high-profile cases.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Some Fans Say Amaarae's "Black Star" Is Not "Ghanaian" Enough

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:47:33 GMT

This episode explores the controversy surrounding Amaarae's new album, "Black Star," and whether it adequately represents Ghanaian identity and music. Despite the album's title and the artist's previous nods to Ghanaian culture, some local fans express disappointment that it doesn't heavily feature traditional Ghanaian sounds or local artists.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Ghana's Economy is Running On A Treadmill"

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:50:53 GMT

This episode dives into a World Bank analysis, which reveals that while Ghana's economy has shown significant growth and recovery, it faces substantial challenges in creating sufficient jobs for its burgeoning youth population. The episode explains that despite a resilient recovery from economic imbalances, including a rise in GDP and a reduction in public debt, this growth has not translated into widespread employment opportunities.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Persistent Gender Imbalance in Ghana's Media

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:35:45 GMT

This episode highlights persistent gender imbalance within Ghana's media landscape. A 2024 report by the Ghana Women Expert Project reveals that women are significantly underrepresented as both interviewees and presenters on major radio and television outlets. The findings indicate a low percentage of female experts being interviewed, with one station showing particularly dismal numbers, and a similar disparity among presenters.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigeria Air Dispute: Minister's Misleading Claims Exposed

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:23:06 GMT

This episode details a public dispute between a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, and Ibom Air, a Nigerian airline, which escalated to physical violence and resulted in Emmanson's arrest. The episode focuses on the controversial role of Nigeria's Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, who claimed to have intervened and persuaded the airline to drop charges and lift a flying ban.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's Urban Transport: A Disability Accessibility Crisis

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 13:46:28 GMT

This episode delves into the severe challenges individuals with disabilities face in accessing urban transportation in Ghana. It details experiences of discrimination from transport operators, difficulty fitting mobility aids into vehicles, and the additional costs incurred due to prejudice.

It also examines the shortcomings of Ghana's 2006 Persons With Disability Act, noting its lack of enforcement mechanisms and specific provisions for various transport modes, which contribute to inadequate accessibility options even from ride-hailing services.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's Energy City Debacle: DVLA Demands Land Return

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 13:20:38 GMT

This episode discusses a controversial land dispute in Accra, Ghana. The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) proposed an "Energy City" project, leading the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to vacate its prime real estate near 37 Military Hospital in 2024, relocating to a leased, less efficient site.

However, the Energy City project stalled, and the DVLA now alleges the land it vacated has been improperly sold to private developers, including a Swiss-owned company.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shoprite's African Retreat: Focusing on South Africa

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 12:35:53 GMT

This episode details Shoprite Holdings' strategic decision to exit its operations in Ghana and Malawi, a move driven by economic challenges and a desire to consolidate its focus. The South African-based grocery retailer has faced currency volatility, high inflation, and significant import duties in various African markets, leading to this retraction. Shoprite is redirecting its resources to its highly profitable home market in South Africa, where it has already observed significant sales growth and aims to strengthen its dominance.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Ghana's Consumer Protection Bill Has Been Delayed For Nearly 20 Years

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:20:47 GMT

The episode discusses Ghana's long-stalled Consumer Protection Bill, first drafted in 2006, which aims to safeguard consumer rights and promote fair trade practices. Despite repeated promises from successive governments, including the NPP and NDC, the bill has not been passed, leaving Ghanaian consumers vulnerable to issues like misleading advertisements, defective products, and exploitative "no return" policies.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana Demands DSTV Price Cuts or Lose its Broadcast License

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 12:10:55 GMT

The episode details a developing conflict between Ghana's Communications Minister and DSTV, a major satellite television provider. The minister has issued an ultimatum, threatening to revoke DSTV's broadcasting license by August 7 if the company does not reduce its subscription prices, which have seen multiple increases despite public outcry.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corruption Allegations Emerge at Ghana Airports Company After Award of “Dubious” Contract

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:20:22 GMT

This deep dive discusses an investigative report exposing alleged corruption and procurement irregularities at the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL). The episode details how GACL awarded a lucrative revenue assurance contract to Evatex Logistics Limited, a company with minimal experience and only one employee, despite having internal capacity.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zaria Court: Africa's New Era of Sport, Culture, and Community

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:47:07 GMT

The episode looks into the launch of Zaria Court Kigali, a $26 million mixed-use development in Rwanda, co-founded by NBA Champion Masai Ujiri. This project, the first from Zaria Group, aims to create a premier destination for sports, culture, and community in Africa, emphasizing sustainable economic opportunities and job creation.

The development features a hotel, event space, sports facilities, and retail, all designed to serve Africa's young, urban population.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women-Only Ride Options: A Global Trend Led by Africa

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:19:49 GMT

This episode discusses Uber's recent pilot program in the United States, which allows women riders to request female drivers and vice-versa, to enhance safety. It highlights that this "Women Preferences" feature has already been implemented and tested in various African markets by companies like Uber and Bolt, predating its U.S. debut.

The episode explains that safety concerns, particularly sexual assault reports, necessitated these features, yet their overall success hinges on increasing the number of female drivers, which remains a significant challenge due to various societal and economic factors.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was Ghana's Former Black Queens Coach "Overhyped"? The Data Says No

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 01:04:48 GMT

The episode discusses a controversy surrounding the former coach of Ghana's Black Queens, Nora Häuptle. A former Ghana Football Association member, Leanier Addy, claimed Häuptle was "overhyped" and that previous coaches had better records. But what does the data actually say?

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana Drops Banking Fraud Case: A Controversial Clean-Up Continues

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:30:05 GMT

This episode discusses the Ghanaian Attorney-General's decision to drop a high-profile financial crime case related to the 2017 banking sector "clean-up."

This decision, a nolle prosequi, means the accused bankers, including Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, will not be prosecuted criminally, though the Deputy Attorney-General stated this does not imply their innocence. The episode deep dives into the 2017 reform aimed to stabilize a troubled banking sector by revoking licenses and injecting funds, yet it was controversial due to accusations of political targeting and lack of transparency.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GENIUS Act's Ripple: Stablecoins in Africa

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:01:46 GMT

This episode discusses the potential impact of the U.S. GENIUS Act on the adoption and regulation of stablecoins in Africa. The hosts highlight how this American legislation, which establishes a federal framework for stablecoins, could accelerate financial inclusion and improve cross-border payments in Sub-Saharan Africa. They also address opportunities for emerging African markets, such as reduced transaction costs and increased access to global finance.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigeria Super Falcons: On-Field Glory, Off-Field Strife

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 17:31:06 GMT

This episode dives into the Super Falcons' dominant performance in the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as they pursue their tenth title. Despite their on-field success, the episode highlights persistent controversies off the field concerning the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), which faces accusations of unpaid bonuses, inadequate resources, and administrative neglect.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's National Cathedral: A Financial Debacle Unveiled

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 14:04:53 GMT

This episode details a Deloitte audit report that uncovers significant financial irregularities and governance failures within Ghana's National Cathedral project.

It highlights how the $350 million initiative, launched in 2017, has been plagued by mismanagement, including discrepancies in payments to architect Sir David Adjaye's firm, payments made without signed contracts, and unapproved extra work. Furthermore, the report identifies repeated violations of Ghana’s Public Procurement Act, criticizing the single-source tendering process and the non-compliant composition of the procurement committee.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's Dating Dilemma: The Rising Cost of Casual Dinners

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:54:42 GMT

This episode discusses how casual dating, specifically dining out, has become a luxury in Ghana, particularly in Accra. It highlights a significant increase in restaurant prices over recent years, attributing this to Ghana's economic challenges, including high inflation and currency depreciation. The episode explores how the surge in costs has led many Ghanaians to avoid eating out or seek alternative, more affordable date activities like "Sip and Paint" events or bowling.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zeepay's Legal Battle: Ghana's Payment System Under Scrutiny

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 23:27:52 GMT

This episode discusses Zeepay's ongoing legal conflict with a major bank in Ghana, brought to light by activist Bright Simons, which highlights significant vulnerabilities within Ghana's digital payment infrastructure.

The core of the dispute revolves around Zeepay's inability to manage GHC 150 million in unsettled liabilities, leading to their banking partner severing ties. This situation exposes a lack of "braking systems" and inconsistent regulatory enforcement by GhIPSS, the national payment platform, which some argue has been slow to implement crucial reforms.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's "Fraud Boys" Face Reckoning: Romance Scams and Lifestyle Audits

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:29:19 GMT

This episode discusses the increasing scrutiny and legal actions against individuals in Ghana, often referred to as "fraud boys," who are involved in online scams, particularly romance and inheritance fraud.

The episode highlights prominent cases such as Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, or "Dada Joe Remix," and celebrity Mona Faiz Montrage, both facing extradition and charges in the U.S. for their alleged roles in defrauding victims of millions. The article also details the FBI's reporting of significant financial losses to romance scams, with elderly individuals disproportionately affected.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghanaian Tech Entrepreneurship: The Unseen Costs of Failure

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:00:00 GMT

This episode discusses Dr. Tessa Pijnaker’s research on the challenges faced by Ghanaian tech entrepreneurs. It discusses how adopting the "fail fast, fail often" Silicon Valley mindset can lead to severe socio-economic decline for young adults who don't pivot to waged employment.

It does a deep dive on the significant personal costs, including strained family relationships, social isolation, missed life opportunities, and mental health issues, that can result from persistent entrepreneurial failures.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Petronia City: A Decade of Unfulfilled Promise

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 22:52:29 GMT

This episode discusses the Petronia City Project, an ambitious 2000-acre development in Ghana launched in 2013 with the aim of creating a fully integrated business hub for West Africa's oil, gas, and mining industries.

Despite its grand vision, which included residential, commercial, and industrial zones, and an estimated cost of $695 million, the project has made little progress over the past decade.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana Oil Fraud Allegations: A Swiss Executive's Complaint

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 22:49:46 GMT

This episode discusses a Swiss oil executive who has filed a formal complaint with Ghana's Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), accusing two Ghanaian petroleum firms, Springfield Exploration & Production Ltd. and GMP Energy Ltd., of a $94 million fraud scheme.

The petition details two alleged schemes: one involving unreceived funds from a petroleum sale through BOST, and another concerning a $100 million loan facility to Springfield for an oil project, where the executive claims misrepresentation and non-repayment occurred.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tanzania’s President Was Seen As A Reformist. But Now, She’s Consolidating Power

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 22:28:56 GMT

This episode analyzes a significant shift in Tanzanian politics under President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Initially perceived as a reformist leader who reversed authoritarian policies, her administration is now reportedly consolidating power as the October 2025 general elections approach.

The episode highlights concerns about media suppression, with journalists and outlets facing bans and arrests under the 2015 Cybercrimes Act, and instances of opposition figures being targeted, including the arrest of the Chadema party leader and the suspicious death of another member.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deloitte Exposes Development Bank Ghana's Mismanagement

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 10:47:36 GMT

This episode details a Deloitte investigation into Development Bank Ghana (DBG), revealing significant issues. The investigation, spurred by an activist, uncovered problems like contract delays, insufficient legal reviews, and a $6 million discrepancy in the bank's IT budget. It criticizes DBG's governance, specifically highlighting a technology committee that approved expensive IT infrastructure without adequate expertise and disregarded concerns about overspending.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's Sex Education Battle: Culture, Religion, and Progress

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 19:06:05 GMT

The episode discusses the controversy surrounding the introduction of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in Ghanaian schools. It highlights the overwhelming backlash from religious groups, traditional leaders, and even some educational stakeholders who feared the curriculum would promote homosexuality and corrupt Ghanaian values.

Despite the potential benefits of CSE, such as reducing teen pregnancies and STIs, and the increasing exposure of young people to pornography, the initiative was ultimately shelved.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's National Service Scheme: Time for Change

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 20:26:43 GMT

This episode discusses the opinion piece from The Journal arguing for the abolition or optionalization of Ghana's National Service Scheme (NSS). Initially established in 1973 to address critical manpower shortages, the article asserts that the NSS has become outdated and inefficient in modern Ghana, forcing graduates into often irrelevant roles for minimal pay.

The episode discusses issues such as delayed allowances, missed career opportunities for participants, and recurring allegations of corruption within the scheme, including the significant siphoning of funds through "ghost names."

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's 24H+ Policy: Ambition Versus Reality

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 19:46:08 GMT

This episode looks at Ghana's upcoming ambitious new 24H+ policy, an economic initiative designed to transition the nation to a 24-hour, export-driven economy. This plan, set to launch in July 2025, aims to create millions of jobs and boost industrialization by integrating various sectors through eight key pillars, including agriculture, manufacturing, and finance.

The episode looks at skepticism due to the policy's ambitious scope compared to Ghana's institutional capacity, insufficient financial details, and reliance on assumptions regarding job creation.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GIFEC CEO's PhD Under Scrutiny

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:50:25 GMT

The episode discusses the controversy surrounding Dr. Rashid Tanko-Computer, the CEO of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), regarding his PhD qualifications. He faces accusations of possessing fake credentials from an online institution named Kingsnow University, which is now defunct and has an inactive website. The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has reportedly instructed him to cease using the "Doctor" title, stating his PhD was "unearned."

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's Missing Sex Offender Registry

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 20:51:23 GMT

This episode discusses Ghana's plan to create a sex offender registry, initially announced in 2020 by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) to track convicted individuals and deter future crimes. Despite the announcement, there has been no public update on the registry's development or launch date as of June 2025. The article contrasts this with other African nations like South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria that have implemented or are establishing similar sex offender databases, suggesting Ghana may be considering these models.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana Government Adoption of Open Source Software

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMT

This episode explores the potential benefits of Ghana adopting open source software (OSS) for its government services, drawing parallels to a Swiss mandate requiring government entities to use OSS.

This episode argues that for African nations with limited resources, OSS offers cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and the avoidance of vendor lock-in. Examples of both successful and unsuccessful software implementations in Ghana are provided to illustrate the challenges of relying on proprietary systems.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's Delayed and Troubled 5G Rollout

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:29:46 GMT

This episode discusses the problematic rollout of 5G service in Ghana, which has faced significant delays and criticism since its initial planned launch. Despite promises and announcements from various parties, including MTN Ghana and the Ghanaian government, the service has not yet become widely available.

A key issue highlighted is the controversial granting of an exclusive, 10-year license to a new entity called Next-Gen Infra Co (NGIC) to build the 5G infrastructure, raising concerns about transparency and the company's ability to deliver.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Telecel Ghana's Troubles Since Rebranding

Wed, 28 May 2025 19:52:21 GMT

This episode discusses the challenges faced by Telecel Ghana after acquiring Vodafone Ghana, despite initial expectations of improved service. Customer complaints regarding poor network quality, dropped calls, slow internet, and inadequate customer service have been prevalent on social media and reported by users.

This comes as MTN Ghana continues to hold a dominant market share, while Telecel has seen a decline in its subscriber base since the acquisition. Although Telecel has invested in infrastructure and corporate social responsibility, issues like unpaid bills leading to power cuts have also impacted service.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana’s Rapid Urban Boom is Endangering Green Spaces

Wed, 28 May 2025 11:15:45 GMT

This episode discusses how Ghana's rapid urban development, particularly in Accra and Kumasi, is causing a significant decrease in urban green spaces. There has been a 30% reduction in the last decade.

This loss leads to increased temperatures, worsened air quality, and higher flood risks, impacting residents' health and well-being. While Ghana has laws regarding land use and green areas, weak enforcement, political interference, and developers prioritizing profit over sustainability mean these regulations are often ignored. Developers also engage in "greenwashing," promoting environmentally friendly projects that lack actual green infrastructure.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana Needs An Emergency Broadcast System

Mon, 26 May 2025 19:00:00 GMT

This episode discusses Ghana's urgent need for an emergency broadcast system to better inform its citizens about potential dangers and critical incidents. It highlights past events, such as gas explosions and dam spillages, where timely public notification was lacking, leading to confusion and casualties.

It suggests that cell broadcast technology is a proven and effective method used in other countries for delivering emergency alerts directly to mobile phones, even during network congestion.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building African Digital Banking: Affinity Africa's Journey

Mon, 26 May 2025 12:50:46 GMT

This episode explores Affinity Africa, a fintech company in Ghana building a digital bank inspired by Nubank.

The company started with a microfinance license and is patiently navigating regulatory hurdles to offer full banking services through a mobile app and other platforms. Affinity focuses on providing loans to individuals and small businesses, developing its own credit scoring engine based on user behavior rather than third-party data.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana's Underfunded Female Athletes

Thu, 22 May 2025 11:34:29 GMT

This episode highlights the significant disparity in treatment and funding between male and female athletes in Ghana, particularly in football.

It details instances where women's teams have had to protest for promised payments, contrasting this with the substantial media attention and financial support given to the men's team despite inconsistent performance.

The episode also discusses cultural barriers and the lack of female representation in sports leadership as additional challenges for women's sports, while noting the global trend of increasing visibility and investment in female athletics.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana Music Royalty System Under Scrutiny

Tue, 20 May 2025 00:31:17 GMT

This episode explores the challenges and criticisms surrounding the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), the body responsible for distributing royalties to Ghanaian musicians.

It highlights the frustration of creatives who report receiving minimal payments, citing examples like Stonebwoy and Ohemaa Mercy. It details the difficulties GHAMRO faces, including a lack of reliable technology for monitoring music usage across various platforms, controversies with tech partnerships like Qisimah, and setbacks related to license renewal and legal issues.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghana Tattoo Culture: History and Modern Trends

Wed, 14 May 2025 17:07:13 GMT

This episode explores the evolving landscape of tattoo culture in Ghana, highlighting its transition from traditional body markings with cultural and spiritual significance to a modern form of personal expression and fashion, influenced by global trends and social media.

It discusses the work of tattoo artists like Winston Vasnani and the growing tattoo industry in major cities, while also acknowledging the persisting social and religious stigma surrounding tattoos in some parts of the community, despite increasing acceptance, especially among the younger generation.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Azunre Has Been Building AI for Ghanaian Languages —And It’s Not Been An Easy Journey

Tue, 13 May 2025 10:00:00 GMT

This deep dive focuses on the challenges faced by Dr. Paul Azunre and his team at Ghana NLP in developing Artificial Intelligence tools for Ghanaian and other African languages.

Despite limited funding and a lack of institutional support, they have successfully built machine translation and speech systems for various languages, often with fewer resources than their international counterparts. A key issue highlighted is the tendency of some large corporations to exploit the concept of "open source" to gain data and effort from African developers without providing adequate compensation, an approach that is fundamentally incompatible with the financial realities in Ghana.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Disappearing Dancefloors of Accra

Sun, 11 May 2025 12:10:00 GMT

This episode discusses the evolution of Accra's nightlife scene, highlighting a shift from community-focused venues to more profit-driven spaces.

Kobby Graham notes how the rise of social media and the "Boiler Room effect" have transformed DJing into a performance for the camera, prioritizing spectacle over the music itself. Furthermore, his article explains how a preference for new and flashy venues, combined with a business model focused on targeting a small elite rather than the masses, has led to the disappearance of large dancefloors in favor of tables and VIP sections.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Ghana Airlines Was Dead On Arrival. Can Mahama’s Administration Revive It?

Fri, 09 May 2025 08:00:00 GMT

This episode discusses the failed attempt by Ghana to establish a new national airline in 2023 under the Akufo-Addo administration.

Despite signing agreements with Ashanti Airlines and Zotus Group, the planned airline, known as Ghana Airlines, did not launch as expected, reportedly due to Ashanti Airlines lacking the necessary Airline Operator's Certificate and sufficient resources.

Anonymous sources indicate a loss of confidence in Ashanti Airlines by the National Airline Committee and efforts to find a new partner.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Ghana Loses Millions Of Dollars in Revenue Due To Lack of Event Centers

Thu, 08 May 2025 09:00:00 GMT

With a lack of event spaces to house events, Ghana is losing out on millions of dollars in revenue due to a lack of infrastructure. How can the country turn things around and take advantage of a growing number of events on the continent.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CalBank Digital Meltdown: System Upgrade Leaves Customers Cash-Strapped and Desperate

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:39:13 GMT

After a system upgrade, most Calbank's services went offline for its customers.

Since the announcement of the outage, customers took to social media to air their grievances. Numerous users reported GHC 50 deductions from their accounts with no explanation. Others say they attempted ATM withdrawals, only for their accounts to be debited without receiving any cash.

Listen to this discussion about the issue of Calbank's digital meltdown.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Padel Is Quickly Becoming A Popular Sport in Ghana

Fri, 02 May 2025 10:00:00 GMT

The growth of padel in Ghana has become more noticeable with investments into the construction of padel courts across the city of Accra

In February 2024, the Professional Padel Association of Ghana (PPAOG) was established and officially recognized by the National Sports Authority as the country's 55th sporting federation.

The association aims to regulate, develop, and promote padel nationwide, with plans to create championships and form a national team.

But with barrier to entry for the masses can be on the high side.

Can padel become one of Ghana’s favorite sports?

Ghana’s Dire Economy Doomed Dr. Bawumia’s Presidential Bid

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 15:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we look at our published article, which asserts that Ghana's struggling economy significantly contributed to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's defeat in the 2024 presidential election.

Despite his efforts to highlight achievements in digitization and education, soaring inflation, high interest rates, and a downgraded credit status overshadowed his campaign. Voters prioritized economic concerns, mirroring a trend observed in US elections where economic dissatisfaction led to the ousting of incumbents.

(This episode was AI-generated from content from The Labari Journal)

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s All Jokes Here”: How Ghana Fails Victims of Sexual Harassment in Workplaces

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 10:00:00 GMT

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Juliet Asante, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana National Film Authority (NFA), logged onto Facebook to share her working experience and to extend best wishes to her successor.

Her post soon became a revelation of an inappropriate incident she experienced while in office.

These are just a few stories about victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. Despite existing laws, Ghana's patriarchal culture holds back victims of sexual harassment from seeking proper justice.

Disclaimer: This podcast episode was created using Google NotebookLM’s podcast feature.

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Accra Might Be Ghana’s Most Overrated City

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Accra, Ghana's capital, is an overrated city despite its modern image. In this podcast, our AI hosts highlight a disparity between luxury offerings and poor infrastructure. The episode details issues such as high rent disproportionate to average income, inadequate public transportation unchanged since the 1960s, and poor city planning leading to perennial flooding.

Despite attempts at improvement, including consulting a Singaporean architect, significant progress remains unseen, leaving Accra as a city struggling behind a facade of modernity and struggling to meet the needs of its average resident.

Read the full article here: https://labarijournal.com/smoke-and-mirrors-why-accra-might-be-ghanas-most-overrated-city/

Disclaimer: This episode was created with AI using Google's Notebook LM

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big Spenders: The Shadowy Finances of Ghana’s Political Parties

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The Labari Journal deep dives into the 2024 election season in Ghana and examines how political parties finance their campaigns. Who funds these lavish campaigns and what are the rules for campaign financing in the country?

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Accra’s Lack of Third Places is Limiting Community Building

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 19:13:57 GMT

The absence of social spaces for young people in the city is hurting its ability to build local communities. Listen to why third places are important for mental health and community building.

Read more stories from labarijournal.com

Read all our stories at labarijournal.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.