THE PARROTS

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...

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the latest of its Maybach line: the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 in California on August 19. The gullwing 2+2 concept has a low, sleek hood, a massive touchscreen inside, and an all-electric powertrain. It’s meant to show what a Mercedes-Benz car could look like, and do, in 10 or 15 years' time. Named for its 6-meter length, the Mercedes-Maybach 6 is totally electric, with a massive battery pack located along the bottom of the car. The engine can achieve 750 horsepower; the car will hit 60 mph in less than four seconds. It has an automatic driving function, although Mercedes executives said it’s meant to be driven. Mercedes-Benz unveiled the latest of its Maybach line: the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 in California on August 19. The gullwing 2+2 concept has a low, sleek hood, a massive touchscreen inside, and an all-electric powertrain. It’s meant to show what a Mercedes-Benz car could look like, and do, in 10 or 15 years' time. N...

The government has acknowledged owing the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) a ‘legacy debt’ of GH¢728 million and plans to spread the payment over the next five years. The Minister of Finance, Mr Seth Terkper, told journalists at a press briefing in Accra that the figures were arrived at after the government had conducted an assessment of the arrears between the government and state-owned enterprises (SoEs) and cross-SOEs arrears and prepared an action plan and timeline for their elimination. How much debt? Over the years, there have been inconsistencies in the exact figure of the debt from the government and the ECG. In May this year, officials of the ECG told the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament that the government owed the company GH¢950 million as a result of subsidies and non-payment of electricity bills, while private institutions and individuals owed GH¢610 million. Owing to the difficulty by the government to pay for the power consumed by institu...

President John Dramani Mahama has granted remission of the prison sentence imposed on three persons otherwise known as Montie trio, for contempt of court. The three, Salifu Maase (aka Mugabe), Alistair Tairo Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn, were sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and a fine of GH¢10,000 each for contempt of court. The remission is effective August 26, 2016. The three were sentenced on July 27, 2016 and have served part of the prison sentences imposed on them. They have also paid the GH¢10,000 fines. A statement issued in Accra yesterday signed by the Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, said the decision of the President to remit the sentences on compassionate grounds followed a petition submitted to him by the contemnors appealing to the President to exercise his prerogative of mercy even as they continued to express deep remorse and regret for the unacceptable statements they made against the Judiciary. “His Excellency President Maha...

Ashanti Gold keeper Fatau Dauda says he is not disappointed with Coach Avram Grant's decision to leave him out of the Black Stars squad for the final African Cup of Nations Qualifier game against Rwanda. Despite his impressive performance for Ashanti Gold, the 31 year old was not included in the 23 man squad. Coach Avram Grant picked Spain-Based Razak Braimah, Rosenberg Adam Kwarasey and WA All stars Richard Ofori ahead of the former Orlando Pirates Shot-stopper Fatau Dauda. And the Ashanti Gold goalie says he is not disappointed to have been left out but rather needs to work hard to secure a place next time. "I am not disappointed, These goalkeepers are good as well, they also deserved the call-up so I am not disappointed,” he told pressmen. “I just have to work hard and make sure I earn a call-up next time. I need to improve on my performance so I will be invited.” The Black Stars will begin Camping in Accra Next week in preparations for their final Cup o...

Private legal practitioner Samuel Atta Akyea has described as constitutional lawlessness, President John Mahama’s decision to free the three persons serving a four-month jail term for criminal contempt. According to him, the president made a decision founded on partisan grounds and used same to rubbish the judiciary. Speaking in an interview on Joy FM's Super Morning Show with Kojo Yankson Tuesday, a day after the president remitted the sentences of  the three persons, the Abuakwa South MP said it is unfortunate that the same people who said they will kill and rape judges have been left to go escort free. The president, according to a statement issued on Monday, August 22, 2016, by Communications Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, granted a radio host with the Accra-based Montie FM Salifu Maase and two panelists, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako-Gunn freedom. They were found guilty of scandalizing the court and sentenced to four months' imprisonment by the ...