Ghana’s ‘Obama Mahama’ Faces Election Test

Faltering economy and claims of voter intimidation threaten President John Mahama’s re-election bid

A supporter of Ghana’s incumbent president, John Mahama, chants slogans during a campaign rally Monday at Accra Sports Stadium in the capital Accra. PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

TAMALE, Ghana—Four years ago, on the back of a growing economy and a slick U.S.-style political campaign, Ghanaians hailed their charismatic, newly-elected president “Obama Mahama.”

Now, with the economy in the doldrums and the country’s reputable election process facing mounting scrutiny, John Mahama is making a final push for re-election in a Wednesday poll being framed as a delicate moment for Africa’s most stable democracy.

“This election is critical. It will be close, but I don’t think Ghana is at risk of breaking into violence,” the 58-year-old Mr. Mahama said in an interview after a boisterous rally in this dust-caked northern city. “We’ve done the hard work restructuring the economy. I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Pentagon pens ground op plans for Mosul as campaign falters – DEBKA

FILE PHOTO. An American soldier takes his position at the U.S. army base in Qayyara, south of Mosul October 25, 2016. © Alaa Al-Marjani / Reuters

Hopes for the successful conclusion of the US-backed operation to retake Islamic State stronghold Mosul are reportedly fading, with US generals now preparing plans to deploy American ground troops in Iraq, pending the approval of President-elect Donald Trump.

After seven weeks, Iraqi troops and their allies have failed to make significant progress in retaking Mosul - Iraq’s second-largest city - from terrorist group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), despite outnumbering the jihadists 10-to-one.

Iran vows not to let Trump destroy nuclear deal

Iran vows not to let President-elect Donald Trump to rip up its nuclear agreement that was signed with world powers, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday.

"(Trump) wants to do many things, but none of his actions would affect us ... Do you think the United States can rip up the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal)? Do you think we and our nation will let him do that?” Rouhani said in a speech at the University of Tehran.

Rouhani added, "Some man is elected in the U.S. whatever plans he has, it will be revealed later. Yes, he may desire many things. He may desire to weaken the nuclear deal. He may desire to rip up the deal. Do you suppose we will allow this?"

What Retirement Without Savings Looks Like

By Paul Sisolak, Contributor

In a perfect world, the perfect retirement is where life begins. But for people like Debra Leigh Scott, there’s the very bleak possibility that retirement is where life might end.

“Suicide is my retirement plan,” Scott, a 60-year-old adjunct professor, said in an interview with Vitae. “Unless you have a spouse or partner, you’re looking at dire poverty in old age. In addition to poverty, you’re looking at getting no additional work because of your age, or you’re looking at dropping dead in the classroom.”

$2.9 Billion In Expenditures Leads To ‘Biggest Ever Trial Of An Audit Firm’

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is in the single largest trial ever against an audit firm for allegedly failing to spot and stop fraudulent spending by a company it audited.

PwC is the world's largest professional services firm and one of the so-called "Big 4″ accounting firms in the United States. It allegedly provided auditory oversight to banks that used customer cash over a number of years to buy some $2.9 billion on objects like a seaplane, private corporate jet, and a collection of vintage cars, according to the Financial Times.