GHANAIAN TIMES

The Times in the main front page story reports that a 4.1 billion-cedi infrastructural development project started months ago for the slum areas of the Tamale municipality, is now at a standstill. Under the headline: "Dispute halts Tamale project", the story says this is because compensation of 350 million cedis has not yet been paid to the 47 affected homes to be demolished. The Times says this has put the project into jeopardy because the World Bank which is financing it under the 'Urban Two Project', has indicated that it will cease to support the project if it is not completed by June 1998. The Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji A.Y.M.B. Ibrahimah, told the Times yesterday that efforts are being made to get the moneys paid to the people. GRI

"TUC speaks out on casual workers", is another Times front page story which says the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has stated that the use of casual workers for more than six months without regularising them is a violation of labour laws. The Deputy General Secretary of TUC, Mr Dennis Vormawor was commenting yesterday on a statement made by the Chief Labour Officer on the use of casual labour in the country and their terms of condition. GRI

In a back page story, the Times reports that the government will soon privatize urban water supply to ensure a more efficient service delivery and to check financial losses occasioned by perennial problems such as unaccounted water. The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr I.K. Adjei-Mensah announced this at Tanoso during a day's tour of the Brong Ahafo Region to inspect water projects. According to the Times the Minister said rural water supply will remain in the hands of the district assemblies, and cautioned the assemblies which toyed with the programme will have themselves to blame because the emphasis is gradually shifting to community initiative. GRI