DAILY GRAPHIC

The Graphic in its lead story reports that the International Monetary Fund has re-affirmed its unequivocal support for the introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in Ghana next year.

The paper says the firm position of the IMF was restated in a sharply-worded response by the Fund to a local newspaper which reported last Monday that the IMF had kicked against the introduction of VAT in the country. The report appeared in "The Ghanaian Chronicle" of November 21-23, headlined "IMF kicks against VAT in Ghana".

The Graphic says the resident Representative of the IMF in Ghana, Mr Joachim Harmack, in an official response accused the paper of deception, misinformation and ludicrous speculation. "The IMF has consistently and strongly supported the introduction of the VAT.

The VAT is considered by tax experts tp ne superior to sales and service taxes, and its introduction in Ghana will improve the tax system, which ultimately could relieve the tax burden of the poor", the Graphic quoted Mr Harmack as saying. GRI

"Health personnel to be held liable", is the headline of another front page story in the Graphic which reports Nana Paddy Acheampong, a Deputy Minister of Health as warning that henceforth, health administrators will be held responsible for any lapses in the provision of emergency services at the public health institutions.

The Graphic says the Deputy Minister noted with concern that though the sector ministry has a clear policy on the provision of services to patients in emergency situations, such as accident cases and for needy and aged patients, health institutions have not performed to expectation in these areas.

Nana Acheampong sounded the warning when he opened a workshop on financial management for senior health managers at Koforidua. GRi

In a centre spread story, the Graphic says the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has suggested the impositi on of sanctions on male teachers who sexually-harass their female adolescent pupils.

The paper report the First Lady as saying the practice has the propensity to jeopardise the future of its victims and therefore, has to be discouraged and possibly eradicated.

Nana Konadu was delivering the keynote address at a silver jubilee seminar in honour of the Queenmother of the Sunyani traditional area, Nana Nyamaa the second. The Graphic says the First Lady noted that there are many traditional practices already militating against the smooth advancement of the girl-child in the pursuit of her academic objectives and to allow the irresponsible behaviour of a few chauvinist male teachers to add to the woes of the school girl, would be too permissive. GRi