DAILY GRAPHIC

The Graphic reports that a number of importers have reacted to a directive from the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to the effect that the tax values of warehoused goods will now be computed at the prevailing rate of exchange at the time the goods are delivered ex-warehouse. In a lead story on its front page headlined: Importers raise fears...Over new CEPS directive on warehousing of goods", the Graphic says the importers described the directive, which took effect from October 1, as ill- timed, a disincentive to large-scale importation and also having the potential of fuelling price hikes in view of the current inflationary trend. The Graphic says hitherto, the warehousing rate was applied at the time goods arrived at the warehouse. GRI

In another front page story headlined: "Police seize assets of ex-Krontihene", the Graphic reports that the assets of an ex- Krontihene of Krapa near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, Nana Diko Kwarteng have been seized by the police following his conviction by an American court for importing heroin into the United States. The ex-chief, known in private life as James Kodwo Kwarteng, was convicted on November 10, 1994 by the district court of Maryland in the United States to a sentence of 97 months imprisonment. According to the Graphic, the ex-chief is currently serving his sentence in the United States. The paper says acting on the powers conferred on the Commissioner of Police (CID) by the Narcotic Drug Control, Enforcement and Sanctions Law of 1990, PNDC Law 236, a team of police personnel from the Narcotics Unit, CID Headquarters in Accra, and the Regional Narcotics Unit, Kumasi led by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Samuel K.N. Akomeah, at the weekend filed seizure notices on the assets pending confiscation.

The Law provides that whosoever is convicted either in Ghana or in any foreign country for narcotic offences, shall have his or her assets confiscated to the state. GRI

"Sunyani chief claims 120 million cedis from SSNIT", is the headline of the main story on the back page of the Graphic. The accompanying story says the Adontenhene of Sunyani, Nana Boadi Akrofa is claiming a whooping compensation of 120 million cedis from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) in the aftermath of a recent demolition exercise at Sunyani which affected an ancestral shrine belonging to the Atoase family headed by the Adontenhene. The Graphic says the demolition exercise which took place about two weeks ago, affected over 70 buildings and other structures, rendering more than 500 people homeless. The Adontenhene, according to the Graphic contended that SSNIT which is in the process of constructing some housing units on the Atoase ancestral land on which the shrine was situated should have accorded the deity the respect and spiritual privilege of allowing it to be solemnly transferred to another family land before the demolition, and for failing to do so, SSNIT cannot be allowed to go scot-free. GRI