DAILY GRAPHIC

"Police storm Accra streets...war on lawlessness begins...", is the lead story of the Graphic. The paper says the Greater Accra Regional Police Command yesterday despatched a contingent of policemen into the streets of Accra to enforce law and order. The personnel, drawn from the various police divisions in Accra, are to enforce traffic regulations, clear hawkers from pavements and streets and assist members of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in curbing indiscriminate littering in the metropolis. According to the Graphic, some 50 personnel have been put on stand-by who will sent in to beef up the number of policemen on the ground if the need arises. This measure came a day after the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Peter Nanfuri, called a news conference in Accra to warn against the increasing lawlessness and indiscipline across the country. GRi

A police constable, Samuel Kwasi Kpabitey, who was standing trial for allegedly stealing two vehicles in July and October, last year, has escaped from custody. Under the heading: "Cop escapes from custody", the Graphic says Kpabitey, formerly of the Cantonments Police Motor Ttaffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), escaped while being taken to the main court building at the Cocoa Affairs Court in Accra on July 30, this year, from the temporary cells on the premises of the court. The paper says Constable Benson Affum Dapaaah, Courts Warrant Officer, who brought Kpabitey to the court from the James Fort Prison, as well as Sergeants, Bediako Bonsu and J.K. Owusu, both cell keepers at the court in whose custody Kpabitey escaped, have been given a 10- day ultimatum to produce the suspect for prosecution. GRi

The Graphic in a back page story says the Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) Limited, has spent about 23.65bC on seven projects in and around Obuasi as part of the company's environmental management programme. Under the heading: "AGC spends 23bC on projects at Obuasi", the paper says the programme involves the installation of sewerage treatment plant to treat septic tank effluents, and the building of a new township to resettle the people of Bediem, near Obuasi, where surface mining by AGC has caused considerable environmental damage to the village. The Graphic says other projects are the desilting of the Kwabrafoso stream at Obuasi, a re-vegetation exercise, a village rural supply and the establishment of an environmental laboratory. According to the paper, this was announced by Dr Kwame Ofori- Tutu, AGC manager in charge of Environmental services, at the launching of an environmental outreach programme being undertaken by the company. GRi