THE PARROTS

NPP promises one constituency one million dollar annual fund. Even before the dust  on the controversial one small scale dam for every community in northern Ghana settles, the running mate of  Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has promised a ‘’one constituency one  million dollar annual fund’’. The latest campaign promise  to be added to the ‘’one-district-one  factory of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is ‘’one constituency one  million dollar annual fund’’. Alhaji Dr Mahamadu Bawumia made the promise when he addressed party supporters at Bunkprugu in the Bunkprugu Constituency in the Northern Region. The ‘’one million dollar annual fund’’, he said, would be given to every constituency to deal with problems that are specific to them. He said the one constituency one million dollar fund policy formed part of the party’s programme called Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Project (IPEP). Tour Nana Akuffo Addo, Alhaji Dr Bawumia and some party sta

The deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has chided the immediate past moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Professor Emmanuel Martey, for doing the bidding of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). He noted the NDC will henceforth deal with Prof. Martey as an NPP propagandist. Prof Martey at a news conference on Tuesday, 30 August 2016 alleged that some politicians attempted gagging him with a US$100,000 bribe. “Politicians have tried all means to muzzle me, to get me but they can’t, they come with bribes, fat envelopes, $100, 000…I want everybody to listen that politicians came to my house with $100, 000 and also with the promises that if you keep quiet we will give you a house at Trasaaco with swimming pool. “We will give you Four Wheel drive [vehicle] but you know what, these people were lucky that I do not have big dogs in my house else I would have released the dogs for them to bite them,” he tol

Former public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has disclosed that the outgoing Moderator of the church, Prof. Emmanuel Martey, was indeed bribed with money and a vehicle by some politicians. This revelation contradicts earlier claims by Prof Martey. Prof Emmanuel Martey had said he almost unleashed his dogs on the unnamed politicians who had come to bribe him to keep his mouth shut. Dr. Emmanuel Osei Acheampong says Prof Martey is throwing dust in the eyes of the public by denying that he received the bribe. Dr Acheampong said the bribe was meant to influence the church’s sermons and pursue the agenda of the party. Speaking to Kasapa News’ Akwasi Nsiah, the former PRO alleged that a leading member of one of the opposition parties presented the money to him (Prof. Emmanuel Martey). The former Presby PRO said these in Twi: Today marks a sad day for the Christian religion, the statement from Prof Martey is one of the most unfortunate that I

A justice of the High Court, Mr Justice Paul Uuter Dery, who is on suspension for alleged corruption, is contemplating filing a suit against the awards committee of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for honouring the ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. But Anas, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic, said Justice Dery was entitled to exercise his rights under the 1992 Constitution. The GJA last Saturday, August 27, 2016, for the second time, crowned Anas with the GJA’s topmost honour. He has so far won four awards for being the best in Investigative Journalism. But the lawyer for Justice Dery, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, is not happy with the turn of events, considering the fact that a case challenging the capacity of Anas’s investigative agency will be decided at the Supreme Court on October 27, 2016. According to counsel, his client was considering citing Anas and the GJA’s Awards Committee for contempt of court “because the award prejudices t

The Vice President is promising to match the opposition New Patriotic Party boot for boot in what is likely to be a democratization of insults ahead of the 2016 elections in December. Dr Papa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur told electorate at the Central Region, where he has been campaigning, that his party has in the past tolerated insults from the opposition party but warned that will no longer be countenanced. Henceforth, he warned, his party is ready to give a double dose of the insults the NPP will throw at them. The Vice President's comments come at a time the president has been admonishing all players in the political field to eschew the politics of insults. At the recent campaign launch of the NDC's campaign in the Brong Ahafo Region, the president accused the NPP of engaging in the politics of insults and cautioned all parties to desist from it.

Residents of Tinga in the Bole District in the Northern Region have been thrown into a state of fear and mourning following a gas explosion that killed six persons, including two females. The explosion, which also injured five others, occurred in the morning of yesterday, August 28, 2016. The horrific scenes created by the explosion sent many of the residents wailing, while others stood in groups to discuss the terrifying accident. Scenes The sound of the explosion drew many people, including children, to the accident scene. Pieces of the container in which the pipes and the gas cylinders were kept could be seen on the road and in nearby houses, with some of the pipes spread on the road. Buildings around the scene of the explosion were badly damaged, with some having their roofs ripped off. The cylinders, believed to have contained oxygen and belonging to Nasara Logistics, were being transported from Kpone, near Tema in the Greater Accra Region, to the Wa Government

'Boko Boko' hitmaker, Mzvee, has made it clear that when it comes to music, she doesn't want to be pigeon-holed, period.  During an interview with Delay, the young vibrant singer explained her "dancehall queen" proclamation in a song with "dancehall king" Shatta Wale by saying it was not a jab at fellow musician Kaakie, but rather a showcase of love. The host pushed her by asking, "so you're not the dancehall queen?", and she responded "yes, I am a musician".  I wouldn't like to be restricted to particular genre because i do all sorts of music- she added.  According to her, Shatta Wale and herself played some sort of "love interest" on the song My Everything and the dancehall king and queen names, somewhat were just "pet names", like lovers have. "People just misunderstood the context of how it came out"- she added. The 2016 VGMA best female vocalist ended by saying that she has no animosity towa

Investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, was last Saturday named the Journalist of the Year 2015 at the 21st Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards, at which the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Charlotte Osei, urged media owners and journalists to resist any attempt to be used as mercenaries in the run up to the December general election. “Doing so will hinder the growth of the media and turn the admiration people ought to have for the media into disdain and contempt. A journalist who allows himself or herself to be used as an agent of destruction is not different from the proverbial goat which aims at destroying the wall but ends up losing its fur,” she stated. She said the power of the media as a constructive and destructive force ought not to be underestimated, noting that the use of that power ought to be geared towards the desire and willingness to ensure that the right things would be done in the country. Towards that end, she said, the c

Members of Parliament (MPs) have been recalled for a sitting on September 1, 2016 to consider a motion on the Ford vehicle gift to President John Dramani Mahama. The Majority Chief Whip, Mr Muntaka Mubarak, confirmed the recall to radioxyzonline  yesterday. Investigations The Ford vehicle gift to the President by a Burkinabe contractor came to light following an investigative piece by Manessah Azure of Joy FM. Following the reportage, a government statement indicated that the President had received the vehicle as a gift. The statement, signed by the Minister of Communications, Dr Omane Boamah, stated that the vehicle had since been added to the pool of vehicles at the Presidency. The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has initiated investigations into the matter following petitions by some Ghanaians. Motion The Minority in Parliament sought for the motion on the Ford vehicle to be moved in the House during the last meeting of Parliament.

Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has agreed to a contract extension with Italian club Udinese. The 25-year-old has signed a four-year deal which will extend his stay at the club until 2020, the club announced. Badu was reported to be on the move this summer with Middlesbrough and stoke City showing keen interest in the box to box midfielder. This deal appears to have ended all speculations surrounding the player this summer. The U-20 World Cup winner joined Udinese in 2010 from Ghanaian lower division side Berekum Arsenal and has proven to be one of the most important players at the club. He has made over 120 appearances and scored 10 goals since joining the Zebras. He had loan spells with Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko and Spanish side Recreativo de Huelva before joining Udinese in 2010.

                        ‘Beast of No Nation’ star Abraham Attah isn’t a tourism ambassador yet, his management has revealed. According to Mr Attah’s manager, Mawuko Kuadzi, the Ministry is yet to officially sign the actor on as an ambassador. The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, in March this year revealed that the ministry is looking at making Abraham Attah Ghana’s tourism ambassador. The Minister, speaking at the launch of the 11th Kwahu Paragliding Festival at the Odweanoma Mountains in Kwahu, noted that the young actor had made Ghana proud and deserved to be celebrated. Five months after the announcement, the Ministry is yet to put pen to paper. Mr Kuadzi speaking at a press conference to officially announce that the child star will start donating 10,000 pairs of Toms footwears, said Abraham is yet to be a tourism ambassador of the Ministry. “We haven’t signed anything with the Ministry

A contempt case brought against the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Commandant and Commander of the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) will be heard on September 1. This follows an order by the Tema High Court that the three respondents be served personally before the case can be heard. The Court also directed the matter be brought to the notice of the Head of Directorate of Legal Service of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). The plaintiff, Emmanuel Akabagre, is citing the respondents for contempt for their refusal to reinstate him into the GMA following a court order on March 24, 2016. The judge said the plaintiff is to be reinstated in the academy and subject to such academic and other qualification required for his commissioning. The legal team for the CDS and other two respondents made up of Mr Nelson Ayamdoo and Captain M Osman indicated that it will be making a preliminary legal objection to the hearing of the contempt application. Meanwhile, Mac-Diamond Nyamekor, who represen

Cristiano Ronaldo has been crowned as the 2015/16 Uefa Best Player in Europe. The Portuguese was named ahead of Real Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale and Antoine Griezmann to be acknowledged as the best player playing on the continent. Surprisingly, Lionel Messi was not nominated for the award, leaving the two Real Madrid stars and Atletico Madrid’s Griezmann to contest for the ultimate prize. The original 11-man shortlist included Messi, Gianluigi Buffon, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Pepe and Luis Suarez as well as the top three nominees. But it was Ronaldo who emerged triumphant in a year where he guided Real Madrid to Champions League glory as well as winning Euro 2016 with Portugal. It was an equally impressive year for Bale who took unfancied Wales to the semi-finals of the Euros on top of lifting the Champions League. However, it was a year of so close but so far for France international Griezmann who was a runner-up in Euro 2016 and also missed a

A criminologist is criticizing the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for deploying what he describes as revolutionary tactics in the case of Bishop Daniel Obinim. Ken Attafuah says the Police acted unprofessionally when they cuffed the Bishop in the full glare of the public knowing too well the Bishop will not escape. The criminologist said the conduct of the police smacks of an old revolutionary tactic. "It is a throwback to primitivity. It is a moribund policing tactic which belongs to the medieval period," he said, adding, "this is the kind policing that was commonplace with the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) period." The leader of the International God's Way Church has been charged with assault and defrauding by false pretense of some GH¢11.6 million cedis. He was to be arraigned before the Accra High Court Thursday on charges of assault after days of interrogation and transfers between the CID

The death toll in the Italian earthquake has risen to at least 247 as thousands of rescuers continue efforts to find survivors. Dozens are believed trapped in ruined Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, in mountainous central Italy. The search went on through the night, and there was a strong aftershock which rocked already damaged buildings. More than 4,300 rescuers are using heavy lifting equipment and their bare hands. Many of the victims were children, the health minister said, and there were warnings the toll could rise further. Amatrice: MJost of the pretty historic town is now rubble, blanketed in grey dust Amatrice residents spent the night outdoors Rescuers said they had pulled five bodies from the ruins of the Hotel Roma in the historic town of Amatrice. As many as 70 tourists were staying at the hotel when the quake struck. Many are feared to be in the rubble, though several were pulled out and given medical care. Late on Wednesday there were cheers in t

Church activities at the headquarters of International God’s Way Church at Kenyasi-Bosore in the Ashanti Region have been put on hold in solidarity with the church’s leader who has been arrested. This follows the arrest and subsequent detention of the founder and leader, Bishop Daniel Obinim since Tuesday. He is being held for flogging two members of his church in the presence of a congregation and allegedly defrauding a man in GH¢11.6 million in a gold business. A few anxious church members, mostly relatives and others who are undergoing spiritual healing for various ailments were spotted mid-morning and in the evening outside the main auditorium. A scheduled evening service on the eve of Thursday’s prophetic and anointing service was cancelled. Members of a prayer team were engaged in a spiritual exercise in an obscured section of an extended part of the church building under construction. A male voice, believed to be that of leader of the about a 15-member gro

Ghanaian boxer Isaac Dogboe has vowed to maintain his title in his upcoming bout with Filipino boxer Neil John Tabanao. The African WBO featherweight champion and WBO Oriental featherweight champion Neil John Tabanao will set the Police Officer’s Social and Fitness Centre alive on Friday when they  face each other in the WBO unification and WBC Youth World Championship. Isaac Dogboe recently stretched his unbeaten professional record to 14 wins after knocking out Ugandan Boxer Edward Kakembo in round 6 and will be looking to maintain his amazing unbeaten run. The boxer, is confident of keeping the titles in Ghana in a bout dubbed “Africa vs Asia” on Friday. He also believes the Filipino boxer will do everything in his power to win the bout and the titles available. Speaking to pressmen in a press conference yesterday he said "Tabanao is not here to make numbers, he's here to prove something and take my title and also the title on the line. He will do everythi

Ghanaian foward, David Accam was on the scoresheet once again for Chicago fire in their 2-2 draw with LA Galaxy in the  Major League soccer. The 25 year old put his side in the lead with a calm finish into the lower right corner in the 39th minutes after teammate Arturo Alvarez had cancelled Gyasi Zardes opener for LA Galaxy. However, they weren't able to grab all three points after Mexican international Giovanni Dos Santos pulled parity for the visitors in the 69th minute. The former Helsingborg forward, is the leading scorer for his side with 7 goals so far in the season and looks to be in great shape and form for the Black stars ahead of their African Cup of Nations Qualifier against Rwanda.

Singer and actress Diamond Appiah has been challenged to pay Bishop Obinim’s alleged Gh¢11.6 million cash or keep quiet henceforth. Prince Tsegah aka Don 1 who claims to be her friend on Wednesday dared the aspiring MP for Trobu Constituency to pay the money stated in the founder and leader of International God's Way Church case. The musician on several occasions has defended the pastor anytime he is in the news for the wrong thing. She recently used unkind words to describe many Ghanaians who talked against Obinim’s act of flogging two teenagers in church for engaging in the immoral act. Prince Tsegah speaking on ‘U Sey Wetin’, a gossip segment on Amanda Jissih’s show on Hitz FM asked Diamond Appiah to pay the Gh¢11.6m if its true the Bishop defrauded the man and stop fighting others anytime the man of God is in trouble. He said Diamond paying off the alleged amount will prove she is indeed a loyal follower of Bishop Daniel Obinim but not someone who just runs her

  West Ham are confident Andre Ayew would be back in action in December after revealing he would not need surgery on his damaged thigh. The West Ham star limped off on his debut against Chelsea and there were fears he could be out for as many as four months. But it has emerged he would need no surgery and could be back in Slavan Billic’s plans in November with a definite return set for December. “Andre Ayew suffered a rare but very serious thigh injury at Chelsea, which will take time to recover from,” head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke told the club’s official website . “Andre will not have surgery and we have started the rehab straight away, working two times a day. Andre is a highly professional athlete with a positive attitude that no doubt will affect the return to play date. He added: “It is early to put a time-line on the rehab, but we are positive to reintroduce him in December.” That would be music to the ears of Ghana coach Avram Gran

President John Mahama has assured students in health training institutions of more job opportunities as his government continues to expand infrastructure in the sector. Mahama, who was addressing separate durbars in the Salaga district as part of his campaign tour of the Northern region, urged trainees and the public in general to ignore false claims by political opponents that there is a freeze on employment. He emphasized that there is no exemption for the health and education sectors when it comes to employment. “So if anybody tells you this, it’s a lie. As many as must be put on the pay roll, we will continue drafting then onto the pay roll. We have had problems with ghost names that is why we go through a verification process, a system that delays the recruitments,” he explained further. He added: “We are training health professionals across the length and breadth of the country. The University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho is training doctors, biomedica

President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, educated the people of Kpandai on the proper way to thumb print a ballot paper. He expressed concern over the number of rejected voters in the 2012 election and asked the people to do it well this time around and retain him in power. He said he has already built the foundation for rapid economic development and appealed to the people to retain in as president to enable him complete his objectives for the nation. The President reiterated his commitment towards improving the quality of education in the country. He said government has so far completed one hundred and twenty three community senior high schools, whilst similar projects are ongoing to expand access to education across the country. He also announced plans to construct modern district hospitals in Kpandai and Wulensi to improve access to health care in the area. President Mahama also revealed that government is awaiting parliamentary approval to extend electricity to twen

The police in Kumasi in collaboration with their counterparts in the Upper East region have arrested one Robert Atiah, the CEO of Power Grounds Micro Finance company based in Navrongo for allegedly duping his clients. He is said to have swindled his clients running into several millions of Ghana cedis. A source at the Ashanti Regional Police command who confirmed the arrest of  Atiah to Graphic Online said the suspect has since January been on the run. He said acting upon a tip off, Atiah was arrested from his hideout at Atasemanso in Kumasi on Tuesday night. He is currently in police custody at the Kumasi Central Police and would soon be transferred to Navrongo to face prosecution. The distraught customers of the suspect had earlier this year petitioned the former Minister of Interior, Mr Mark Woyongo to help them retrieve their investments. Reaction Meanwhile information picked up by radioxyzonline in Navrongo indicated that the residents received the news about his a

Founder and leader of the International God’s Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim has been arrested by the Tema Regional Police for allegedly defrauding a man of GH¢11.6 million. Obinim was said to have taken the money to help the complainant retrieve an amount of GH¢780,000 from a fetish priest. According to the Public Relations Officer of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joseph Darkwa, a complainant came to the Tema Police some weeks ago to lodge a complaint against Obinim. According to him, the complainant said on November 28, 2015, he gave an amount of GH¢780,000 to one Okomfo Gyapata of Mampong Nkwanta near Koforidua in the Eastern Region to do a spiritual ritual to bless the money. According to the complainant, after some time, he realised that the Okomfo was not able to help him neither was he able to give him back his money, so he went to Bishop Obinim to report the matter and help him retrieve the money, th

Bucking against conservative Christian tradition advising against extra-marital sex, the Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan, a married mother of three and associate pastor for ministry with families at Union Church of Hinsdale in Illinois, says single Christians can have sex as long as it's "mutually pleasurable and affirming." Citing 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, many Mainline Protestant and evangelical churches like the  Assemblies of God Church , advise against sexual relations among single Christians. "Today within our society singles exist for one of two reasons — by choice, or by circumstance. In either case the Bible's mandate is clear for all unmarried individuals: they are to remain sexually pure (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)," the Assemblies of God church warned. For McCleneghan, however, whose views are comprehensively captured in her new book,  Good Christian Sex: Why Chastity Isn't the Only Option — And Other Things the Bible Says About Sex ,  singl

Controversial Preacher Bishop Daniel Obinim has been transferred from the Tema Police to the CID headquarters for further interrogations in a GH¢11.6 million fraud case. Bishop Obinim has spent the entire day today at the Tema Regional Police’s premises as they begun investigations into an earlier case of him flogging two church members. In the latest case, the Tema Police arrested for defrauding under false pretense. More soon...

Medeama’s CAF Confederations Cup campaign came to a disappointing end as they lost 1-0 to Algerian side MO Bejaia. A second half strike from Morgan put a dagger through the hearts of the Ghanaian side who harboured high hopes of qualifying. Tried as the Tarkwa side did, they failed to find the leveller as their second ever continental campaign came crushing before their eyes. Medeama will look back at the wins over Sundowns and TP Mazembe as the highlight of the campaign but their inability to beat Bejaia at home cost them a semifinal berth. They finished with 8 points, same as Bejaia but with an inferior head to head. The Algerian side have now knocked out both of Ghana’s representatives in yhis years CAF inter clubs competition.

The Minister of Finance, Mr Seth Terkper, has said the government has decided to adopt a firm but conservative approach to making macroeconomic assumptions, in spite of the bright economic outlook. He said with the Tweneboa-Enyera-Ntomme (TEN) fields, the Jubilee fields, as well as the Sankofa field, for which a third FPSO was at an advanced stage of construction, added to the government securing a World Bank partial risk guarantee, growth was expected to expand. That, he said, was complemented by a growing services sector and improvement in the power situation in particular. He said for the first time since 2006, Ghana aimed to achieve a primary fiscal balance surplus in the 2016 fiscal year. No over-excitement. Mr Terkper, who said this during a press briefing in Accra yesterday, however, added that “going forward, we want to be conservative. We would not want to be over-excited about the TEN fields and Sankofa. We must learn lessons from our first experience when we es