Author: Chronicle Editor

Voting is under way in Ghana’s presidential election in what analysts say is a tight race between President John Mahama and veteran opposition leader Nana Akufo Addo. All seven candidates have pledged to keep the process peaceful but an opposition supporter died when a rally tuned violent on Monday. The campaign has been dominated by the faltering state of Ghana’s economy and the issue of corruption. Results are expected within three days. A run-off will be held later in the month if neither of the two main candidates secures more than 50% of the votes. The candidates signed a pact…

By Okey Ndibe I have said this before: one of the hardest tasks is to predict how Nigerians would react in any given situation. We are a perplexing bunch, able to defy the most skilled pontificator. Imagine, then, my constant frustration. As one who has written for years on Nigerian affairs, I am often asked—both by audiences in Nigeria and abroad—to pronounce on the likely turn of events in my country of birth. Often, in a mood of humility, I give the only response that makes sense. I confess that I don’t know. I tell the inquirer that Nigeria is…

Arsenal’s Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, 27, is using a £400,000-a-week offer from China to try and get the Gunners to break their wage structure to keep him.(Daily Mail) West Ham are planning to make a move for Manchester United’s Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini, 29, when the transfer window opens next month. (Telegraph) The Hammers also want to sign 29-year-old Chelsea and Bosnia goalkeeper Asmir Begovic on loan. (Sun) Chelsea, Manchester City and Ajax all want to sign 13-year-old Celtic forward Karamoko Dembele, with the English and Scottish FAs also competing over his international future. (Independent) Everton held talks with Manchester…

The authorities in Bolivia have arrested the head of the airline involved in a crash last week that killed 71 people, including most of the Brazilian football team, Chapecoense. Gustavo Vargas, a retired air force general, has been detained as part of an investigation into the crash. The plane, operated by the tiny LaMia airline, was taking the team to Colombia when it ran out of fuel. A Bolivian official says she warned the pilot of the problem before departure. The official, Celia Castedo, has now sought asylum in Brazil, saying she suffered threats and abuse. Chapecoense were travelling to…

The Minister of Youths and Sport, Mr Solomon Dalung has stressed that the Federal government has no intention to scrap or made the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) optional. In this vein, he urged the state governments to improve the NYSC facilities in their various states. The Minister noted that the government could not continue to risk the lives on its citizens in dilapidated camps. Dalung spoke in Abuja when he paid a condolence visit to the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure at the NYSC Headquarters, Abuja. “The sudden news of their demise is highly unpalatable. The country is devastated…

A supposedly dead man was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at a Federal High Court in Lagos Tuesday. Uba Ubachukwu Collins, listed among three Bolivians and another Nigerian, is facing trial for allowing a property in Satellite Town Lagos, to be used for the production of methamphetamine, a banned drug, as powerful and harmful like cocaine or heroine. The second count against him was that he was also involved in the distribution of a controlled drug called Acetone. When the charge was read, Collins lawyer, Mr Mackings Ezenya told the court that the accused was dead. He…

Arda Turan will be gracing the front and back pages after his hat-trick inspired Barcelona to a 4-0 win against Borussia Gladbach in the Champions League. Lionel Messi opened scoring for Barcelona in the 16th minute but it was Turan who has been in the passenger seat for most of his time at Barcelona since joining from Atletico Madrid that stole the show. His goals in the 50th, 53rd and 67th lit up the Camp Nou giving fans a new hope after dismal displays against Real Sociedad and Real Madrid over the weekend. More to follow…

Celtic forward Patrick Roberts’ early goal stopped parent club Manchester City winning all three Champions League home group games for the first time. The on-loan 19-year-old cut inside from the right flank, firing the Scottish champions ahead with an angled drive. The hosts, who were already assured of finishing second in Group C, equalised when Kelechi Iheanacho drilled in. City’s Nolito had a goal ruled out for offside after the break as already-eliminated Celtic earned a point. Pep Guardiola’s side will find out who they will play in the last 16 when the draw is made on Monday. How far…

Arsenal finished top of Champions League Group A thanks to a Lucas Perez hat-trick in Basel and Paris St-Germain’s draw with Ludogorets Razgrad. Needing to better PSG’s result if the French side dropped points, the Gunners took control through two Perez tap-ins. Perez drove in his third from the edge of the box and Alex Iwobi rolled in a fourth before Seydou Doumbia cut through for a Basel consolation. A 2-2 draw in Paris left Arsenal top for the first time since 2011-12. Arsenal failed to make it past the last 16 that year, and have fallen at the first…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted security agencies on reports of a massive arms build-up by the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration in the lead up to the December 10, 2016 legislative re-run elections in the State. In a statement issued by Hon. Mai Mala Buni, National Secretary, All Progressives Congress, he said that nobody is after Wike, urging the public to disregard his lies. “The report by the Rivers State government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleging the withdrawal of Wike’s security aides and an assassination threat on the Governor is a hoax meant to deflect…