RUMOURS: Mourinho to replace Benitez at Real Madrid

The Portuguese, who was sacked by Chelsea last week after the champions' poor start to the season, could be set for a return to the Santiago Bernabeu. Jose Mourinho could replace Rafael Benitez as Real Madrid manager, according to AS. The Portuguese was sacked by Chelsea on Thursday after the champions lost nine of their opening 16 Premier League matches, leaving them just one point above the relegation zone. Benitez's job has also come under threat this term, with Madrid two points behind league leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand. And if president Florentino Perez was to dismiss the former Liverpool boss, Mourinho could be the man to take his place in the dugout at the Santiago Bernabeu. Mourinho spent three seasons at Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning one La Liga title and one Copa del Rey.

Source: Goal

Transport Minister Resigns Over MMRT Rebranding Scandal

Information available topeacefmonline.com indicates that Minister of Transport, Dzifa Attivor has resigned over the Metro Mass Rapid Transit Bus scandal. According to a statement signed by her Personal Assistant, Egypt Kobla Kudoto, the Minister of Transport can no longer continue with her duties and has accordingly submitted her resignation letter to the President, John Dramani Mahama. Issue Government has spent about GH¢ 3,649,044.75 on the Re-branding of 116 buses for the Metro Mass Rapid Transit (MMRT) imported to improve the transport system in the country. Re-branding for each of the buses cost GH¢31,457.28, leading to a total of GH¢3,649,044.75 for the 116 buses, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu quoted figures from the 2015 annual report on the Petroleum Funds. But the Transport Minister, Dzifa Ativor in her response to the claim by the Minority Leader said she did not have the details of the re-branding at hand and promised to make it available to the House at a later date. Below is the full statement: Hon Mrs Dzifa Attivor, Minister of Transport wishes to inform the good people of Ghana that, as the Minister with oversight responsibility for the activities of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT), she has tendered in her resignation as Minister due to the current issues surrounding the branding of the 116 buses. She further wants to take the opportunity to thank her Party for the opportunity offered her to serve, first as Deputy Minister of Transport under the late President JEA Mills, and later the substantive Minister. Mrs Dzifa Attivor also wishes to thank the President sincerely for the honour to serve in his government. She has already communicated this decision to His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama through the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah. Signed Egypt Kobla Kudoto Personal Assistant

Source: Peacefmonline.com

EC Boss Should Have Been At IEA Election Lecture To Learn From The Nigerian Experience - Mrs Rawlings

Founder and flagbearer of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has reiterated the need for a credible voters' register. Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings called for a new register, stressing that the register is a panacea for Ghana's porous elections. “I think we should have credible register…history teaches people that you learn from other people’s examples. You don’t sit down and pretend you know it all. So, you pick from places where they have experienced certain things, how they’ve done it, how you can improve yours and then you act on it." In an interview with Peacefmonline.com at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) 25th Anniversary Lecture on Free and Fair Elections in Africa, Nana Konadu advised political parties to desist from busing people to polling stations to do the bidding of the paymasters. According to her, "busing people whether they’re Ghanaians or not, busing people whether they’re registered voters or not; may be one of the ways that they want to twist things but I think that if you like your country enough, they will learn the right thing and correct them.” Nana Konadu further expressed concerns over the absence of Ghana's Electoral Commissioner Charlotte Osei at the IEA lecture. The lecture hosted Nigeria's immediate past Electoral Commissioner Prof. Attahiru Jega to share his experiences that led to free and fair elections in Nigeria on March 2015. Present at the function were NPP Flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; suspended NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong; the former Chief of Staff, Nana Ato Dadzie; former Commissioner of CHRAJ, Prof. Emile Short among other dignitaries, but Ghana's EC Boss couldn't make the occasion. Addressing the absence of Mrs. Charlotte Osei, Nana Konadu held that the EC Boss should have been present to learn from the Nigerian experience. “I think it would have been good if she had the time to be present at least to listen to the questions that were being asked and then the answers that were going to be given.”

Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

NPP Members Pop Champagne To Kwabena Agyepong’s Suspension [PHOTOS]

Some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) greeted the news about the suspension of their General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong with loud cheers and celebrations at the party headquarters in Accra. The National Executive Committee which took the decision on Thursday, also suspended the Second Vice Chairman Sammy Crabbe indefinitely.  Citi News’ Franklin Badu Junior who was at the party’s headquarters when the NEC ruled on the matter reported that about thirty supporters were popping champagne and wine, jubilating over the development. “A lot of champagne popping at the NPP headquarters at Asylum down. I can see about thirty supporters of the party popping champagne, some with powder, jubilating upon hearing that the party’s General Secretary, Kwabena Agyyepong and the Second Vice Chairman, Sammy Crabbe have been suspended.  “Some party members started shouting, screaming and pouring champagne immediately after the decision was announced- a sign that what they wanted for the party’s General Secretary and the Second Vice Chairman had received a stamp from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC),” he said. He further stated that some party loyalists chased Agyepong out of the party headquarters with brooms after the decision was taken. This is not the first time Agyepong has met stiff opposition from NPP loyalists at the party’s headquarters. He was earlier confronted with a more violent actions which led to an attack on his vehicle after he brought to the notice of persons present at the party’s steering committee meeting, an application for interlocutory injunction. Persons present at the meeting Some bigwigs within the party, including Nana Addo, Haruna Esseku, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu among others were present at the meeting that saw the suspension of the two. Reports indicate that John Boadu, who is the NPP’s National Organiser is likely to take up Agyepong’s position.

Source: citifmonline.com

Kwabena Agyapong And Crabbe Suspended Indefinitely By NPP

Snippets of information reaching Peacefmonline.comindicates that, the General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong and Second National Vice Chairman Sammy Crabbe, have been suspended indefinitely by the National Executive Committee of the NPP. Media reports earlier indicated that the Disciplinary Committee of the NPP recommended a 15 months suspension for embattled General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong, and an indefinite suspension for its second vice chairman, Sammy Crabbe. Peace FM News' Naana Ntiri who is at the party's headquarters reports that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the opposition New Patriotic Party has upheld the decision by the party's Disciplinary Committee; and went further to commit both to an indefinite suspension. NEC met today to take the decision on whether to affirm the decision of the Disciplinary Committee at the party's headquarters in Asylum Down Accra. The suspensions follow a petition brought forth by some NPP members who accused the General Secretary and the second Vice Chairman of undermining the party’s authority after the suspension of National Chairman, Paul Afoko. Their utterances are believed to have emboldened the petitioners, Chris Arthur, Former TESCON-KNUST President; Adreba Kwaku Abrefa Damoa, London; Kwabena Afum Dankwa, London; and Kwame Baffoe, NPP Regional Youth Organiser, Brong Ahafo to demand sanctions against the two. Earlier today, Director of Communications of the NPP, Nana Akomea, denied reports that the DC has made recommendations for Kwabena Agyapong’s suspension in an interview with Peace FM's Kwami Sefa Kayi. The petitioners stated in their petition filed November 4, 2015 that; “Kwabena Agyepong has rubbished, and keeps rubbishing the suspension of Afoko from his chairmanship. This in our view is an act of mischievous contempt for the authority of the Party as a whole, including its elders, its leadership, and its structures.” However, even before today’s NEC meeting, some groups like the Ashanti Youth Association, Young Executives Forum of NPP, Ashanti Market Women Association and other pro-NPP groups warned the party to back off the decision to suspend Kwabena Agyapong or risk disintegrating the party ahead of the 2016 elections. Kwabena Agyepong and Sammy Crabbe will now join Paul Afoko as national officers who have been suspended by the party in less than three months. Some political observers had warned that sidelining such figures will deepen the party’s internal strife, but others disagree. It remains to be seen how these suspensions will affect the electoral fortunes of the NPP; if indeed it can.

Source: Alex Ofei-Kwayisi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana and Naana Ntiri/Peace FM News