The late president John Mills will no longer be buried at the Flag Staff House as initially planned. A statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Chairman of the Funeral Planning Committee Kofi Totobi Quakyi says the late Ghanaian leader will be buried at a “specially designated place in between Castle Drive and Marine Drive Accra.” The place located just around the Osu Castle will subsequently be developed into a Presidential Mausoleum, the statement added.

A 21-YEAR-OLD unemployed man who could not control his libido and ended up defiling an 11-year-old boy has been handed a 10-year jail term by an Accra Circuit Court. The convict, Benjamin Sam, admitted to committing the crime by having sex with the boy through his anus, when he was put before the court presided over by Sedina Agbemava. The trial judge convicted him on a charge of defilement and sentenced him to 10 years. The prosecutor, Chief Inspector I.A.A. Ahor, informed the court

Former Education Minister, Dr. Ekow Spio-Gabrah says it is important that President John Dramani Mahama unites the rank and file of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the party gears up for the December polls. To Dr. Spio-Gabrah, the NDC has been polarized since it won the 2008 general election, insisting that President John Mahama must immediately bring onboard former President Rawlings to restore hope and complement his effort in sustaining power for the NDC.

Even though President John Dramani Mahama has nominated Governor of Bank of Ghana, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur as his Vice-President, peacefmonline.com can confirm that there is a huge possibility the astute economist might not be his running mate. President John Evans Atta Mills died Tuesday, July 24, 2012 and left vacancies, not only at the presidency, but also on the NDC’s presidential ticket. Mr. Dramani Mahama, the former Vice-President, was sworn into office as the new president hours later,

New Patriotic Party presidential nominee Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is leading newly ascended President John Dramani Mahama in VibeGhana.com’s first head-to head 2012 presidential election poll (July 24 -31). Fifty-one percent of registered Ghana voters said that they would vote for Nana Akufo Addo if the presidential election were held today, while 48 percent said they would vote for President Mahama. One percent of those surveyed said they would vote for neither Nana Addo nor John Mahama.

Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is quitting as international peace envoy for Syria in the face of an armed rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad whose violence shows no sign of abating after 17 months of strife. As battles raged on Thursday in Syria's second city Aleppo between rebel fighters and government forces using war planes and artillery, U.N. Secretary Ban Ki-moon announced in New York that Annan had said he would go at the end of the month.

Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a man many political analysts have tipped to likely bear the flag of the yet to be certified National Democratic Party (NDP), has stated emphatically that he is a fully-blooded member of the ruling NDC; and has rejected the slightest chance of flirting with any other party - for now. Dr Spio-Garbrah had never hidden his disapproval of certain persons in leadership positions in government under the watch of the late President Atta Mills. The former presidential aspirant of the NDC

The Committee organizing the funeral of late president John Evans Atta Mills has agreed to hand over his body to his family after an initial burial by the State. The agreement was reached following a meeting with the late president’s family Thursday. Joy News’ parliamentary correspondent Sammy Darko reported that the committee has also agreed to fully include the family in the arrangement of the funeral. The family will take steps to recover the body for reburial, he stressed.

Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has been summoned to appear before the Coroner’s Court, making inquest into the crashed Dana plane of June 3. Lagos Coroner, Abule Egba Division, Magistrate Komolafe Oyetade, gave the order yesterday while adjourning the sitting of the inquest till Monday. The court summon came on the heels of a confession by an official of Dana Airline, Mr. Tony Usidamen, that the ill-fated aircraft had suffered engine failure two years before.

FORMER Federal Capital Territory Minister, Dr. Aliyu Moddibo Umar, has cleared the air over the genesis of the controversy surrounding the plot of land allocated by the FCT Administration for building the continental secretariat of African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), saying he indeed allocated the plot to AFLPM in 2008. The clarification came as the National Human Rights Commission yesterday began investigations into claims of alleged forced evictions received from Makoko waterfront communities in Lagos,

With the House stepping up the heat on the President via its impeachment moves over budget implementation, rejection of the PIB for being submitted at the beginning of vacation and House angst over SEC DG, Aruma Oteh’s, reinstatement, as well as the perceived unseen hands of the presidency in the Farouk Lawan affair, the relationship between the House and the Executive is at a low, low ebb. Minority Leader and House Minority Whip, Representative, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has been in the thick of it all,

The Coordinating Minister on the Economy/Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday apologized to the Senate for not honouring its earlier scheduled meeting. Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu had last Tuesday threatened that the Upper Legislative Chamber may order her arrest if the minister failed to appear before the lawmakers yesterday. She was supposed to brief the Senators on the 2012 budget implementation which had been an object of controversy with the executive.

FOR Lagos motorists, especially early risers, who miss their breakfast in their rush to workplaces but find solace in snacks or other quick-fix food while behind the wheels, it is the end of an era. In simple terms, it is motorists beware! Just a bite on that snack or a sip from a sachet or bottle of water from that harmless hawker while on motion is now a traffic offence in the state. It is also a crime for Lagos motorists to make or receive phone calls while they are on motion.

‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord,’ so commands the Bible. That is apparently why, in virtually every street in Lagos, there are churches and mosques, competing to activate this line of the holy book. They hang their loud speakers outside their churches or mosques during prayers and sermon and sometimes, they play heart-stopping, up-tempo music.  In addition, they organise vigils and outreaches in densely populated neighbourhoods without caring about the residents’ right to good rest or sleep.