DAILY GRAPHIC

The Graphic reports that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that no individual can arrogate to himself the right to call for and decide the removal of the Minority Leader of the party in Parliament. In a front page story headlined: "NPP reacts to calls for changes", the Graphic says the NPP has accordingly called on members of the party to desist from making such "unauthorised" personal statements to the press on critical issues affecting the well-being of the of the party and instead channel such views to the appropriate party organ for attention. The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr. Joseph Agyenim-Boateng was reacting to the call for periodic changes to the party's parliamentary leadership by Mr. Hackman Owusu- Agyeman, Member of Parliament for New Juaben North and Minority spokesman on Foreign Affairs. GRI

"Free medical care for pregnant women", is the headline of a story in the centre spread of the Graphic which says the Ministry of Health has made resources available to all the regions to provide free medical and ante-natal care for pregnant women. This is in line with the President's announcement in his sessional address to Parliament that a package will be designed to allow for free medical services to pregnant women at all public health centres. The Graphic quoted the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Samuel Nuamah-Donkor as announcing this when he opened the first biennial general meeting of the Ghana Registered Midwives' (GRMA) at Tamale on Tuesday. The paper says Mr. Nuamah-Donkor explained that the concession made by the government is a direct response to lowering the maternal mortality rate in the country. GRI

In another centre spread story the Graphic reports that the Ghana Society for the Blind, a local NGO, which caters for the welfare of the blind, has expressed concerned about the increasing rate at which children accompany blind beggars on the street. The Graphic says the Society noted with grave concern that most of such children are denied education and other basic necessities to prepare them for a good future. Mrs. Victoria D. Bonsu, executive director of the Society who expressed the sentiment at a news conference in Accra yesterday, said such children ignorantly spend a great deal of their time with the beggars at the expense of their future and become a liability to society. GRI