DAILY GRAPHIC

"Polluters to pay for Mess", is the banner headline story on the front page of the Graphic. The story says the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology is working out modalities for the implementation of a "Polluter Pays Principle". The principle compels industries and individuals who pollute the environment to bear the cost of cleaning up. Offenders may be prosecuted and may face maximum penalties if they do not take steps to reduce the polluting effect of their activities. The Deputy sector minister, Dr Farouk Brimah, dropped the hint when he opened a week-long seminar on environmental management in Africa for 60 secretaries, public relations practitioners and operators of the tourism industry in Accra yesterday. GRi

The flagbearer of the NPP in the 1996 general elections, Mr J.A. Kufuor has urged the government to take immediate measures to stabilise the free fall of the cedi and reduce the rate of inflation in the country. In another front page story the Graphic reports that Mr kufuor has said that so far as the state of the economy is concerned, "I do not see any light at the end of the tunnel". Mr Kufuor was speaking on the state of the Ghanaian economy on Radio GAR Talk Show in Accra yesterday. GRi

A suit by an Accra hotel against the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), is another story that captures the front page of the Graphic. According to the paper, Kingsby Hotel Limited, has filed a suit at an Accra High Court claiming 53,000 dollars from ECG for losses incurred by the hotel due to negligence on the part of ECG. The writ is also claiming special and general damages and interest on the damages at a rate and period as the court thinks just. In a statement of claim dated August7, 1997, plaintiff said on April 20, 1997 and at a time the hotel was hosting guests of an international seminar using a number of electrical gadgets, almost all the gadgets and equipment including fittings, suddely blew out as a result of excess supply of electricity by ECG.

"Focus attention on financial management - Duffuor", is another story in the centre spread of the Graphic. The paper says the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BOG), Dr Kwabena Duffuor, has urged African leaders to re-focus attention on sound macro-economic and financial management to be able to tackle the formidable development targets that they have set themselves. He noted that previous efforts to address the problem failed mainly because most of the projects and programmes were largely designed off-shore without the involvement of the beneficiary countries. Dr Duffuor made the call in Accra yesterday when he addressed the opening session of a 14-day course for the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM). GRi