President John Dramani Mahama says the decision to open discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not because of the failure of government’s own home grown solutions, but rather because of the need for policy credibility and confidence from the international financial institutions, capital markets and investors for the measures being implemented to restore economic stability and growth. He noted that turning to the IMF was a decision to gain the seal of approval from the Bretton Wood institution {....}

Indirect Israel-Palestinian negotiations over extending a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and ending a blockade of the territory got underway in Cairo on Wednesday, with positions from both sides maximalist and much jockeying expected ahead. Israel wants the Islamic militant Hamas to disarm, or at least ensure it cannot re-arm, before considering the group's demand that the territory's borders be opened. Israel and Egypt imposed a closure after the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007, although {....}

A man who stabbed a friend to death after a failed romance with his sister has been jailed for life for his murder. Paul Mapps, 26, of Trinant, Caerphilly, stabbed Ian Davies, 27, with a kitchen knife at a house party in January. The court heard the men had been good friends but their relationship became "somewhat volatile" when Mr Davies starting dating Mapps' sister Dawn, 30. Mapps was found guilty by a majority verdict at Cardiff Crown Court. He attacked Mr Davies with a kitchen knife {....}

Suspended Black Stars midfielders, Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng, will be among the the headline-makers when the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Black Stars’ Brazil 2014 World Cup fiasco begins its sitting next Monday. The chairman of the Commission, Justice Senyo Dzamefe, hinted the Graphic Sports in an exclusive interview at the African Regent Hotel yesterday. The soft-spoken Appeals Court Judge, who preferred to keep those to appear before the Commission to his {....}

Yesterday Beyonce uploaded a few photos of herself and hubby Jay Z on her Tumblr page, and despite reports that the couple are staying in separate hotels and this close to splitting, Bey seems to want us to believe otherwise! Though Beyonce usually posts sexy photos of herself or sweet snapshots of daughter Blue Ivy, we find it interesting that the last three she uploaded were pictures of Jay hugging her. Yesterday Page Six reported that the couple of twelve years are staying in different hotels and arriving {....}

Twenty-one police personnel were dismissed from the Ghana Police Service in the first quarter of 2014 for various acts of misconducts, investigations by The Finder have revealed. Out of the number, two were Cor­porals (Cpl), 15 were Lance Corporals (L/Cpl), and four Constables (Const.). Nine personnel, including one Su­perintendent, one Chief lnspector, one Corporal and six Lance Corporals, were also reduced in rank. A Chief Superintendent (C/Supt.) and one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) {....}

Government has indicated plans to restructure the current management of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), as it completes the signing of the second MCC compact with the US government. Ghana on Tuesday signed $498 million under second compact of the Millennium Challenge Account to be used for the improvement of power distribution in the country. A day after the ratification, Finance Minister Seth Terkper says the team that supervised the management of the first compact would {....}

Deputy Minister in-charge of Tertiary Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said that final year polytechnic students of the 2013/14 academic year will undertake their national service in 2014. According to him, the students who have not completed their polytechnic education will be posted to regions where their schools are located so as to be able to combine the final academic work and national service. Polytechnic Teachers have been on strike since May 15, 2014 demanding payment of their book {....}

Kanye West has a reputation for being one of the most highly quotable celebrities in the world - and now he's come out with a belter. Kanye West has a reputation for being one of the most highly quotable celebrities in the world - and now he's come out with a belter. The Bound 2 rapper swore under oath this week, after he was accused of beating a photographer, telling the snapper's lawyer: "I'm the smartest celebrity you've ever f***ing dealt with. I'm not Britney Spears." Amazing. TMZ have {....}

One of the nurses who attended Patrick Sawyer, the first Ebola victim in Nigeria, has died. Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu made this known in Abuja August 6, Punch reports. He also revealed that 5 other medical practitioners involved in treatment contracted the virus. “Nigeria has now recorded seven confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease. The first one was the index case, which is the imported case from Liberia of which the victim is now late. Yesterday, 5th August, 2014 {....}

Howard Webb has ended his 25-year refereeing career after being appointed technical director of the official referees’ association. Webb has refereed over 500 Premier League and Football League matches and officiated in the 2010 World Cup final. The 43-year-old began his career in 1989, progressing through the Northern Counties and Football League to become a Select Group referee in 2003. “I am very excited to start this new chapter in my career,” said Webb. Webb was involved in nine major {.....}

Ghana Under 20 Women’s coach Bashir Hayford is upbeat about progression after their opening day win. After seeing his side edge hosts Canada 1-0 in their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup opening game, Hayford knows advancement is within reach. “It was a good game, I appreciated all that I’ve seen tonight. And at the end of the day, the best team won,” said Hayford in Toronto post-game. The three points put Ghana second Group A after Sherifatu Sumaila got the winner, which got the admiration of the {....}

A 44-year-old electrician who is alleged to have repeatedly defiled his biological daughter for the past two years has been arrested by the police. The suspect, whose name was given as Solomon Addae Mensah, was arrested after the victim had confided in her class teacher about what she had been going through. The teacher, who heard the graphic details of the lewd acts and sexual abuse the junior high school (JHS) student had been going through, immediately informed the Kaneshie Division of the Domestic {....}