Hit-and-run Driver Arrested

Kasoa(c/r),July 2, Kasoa Police have arrested the driver who allegedly knocked down and killed Madam Aku Tafatsi, 37 -year- old farmer of Akweley-Nkwanta, near Kasoa, and her eight year-old son, Blessed Tafatsi, recently. Abena Doe, a daughter of the deceased who was injured in the accident is on admission to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. According to inspector Asamoah Darkoh, the driver, Mr. Amedomey Demeteo, 35, is in police custody and would be sent to court as soon as investigations into the case are completed. Demeteo said he decided to run away for fear that he might be lynched by those who saw the accident if he stopped. He therefore reported himself to the police who arrested him.

Kumasi (ASH), July 2, Mr. Mohammed Mumuni, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, has called on district assemblies to devise ways of alleviating the financial problems of National Service Personnel when payment of their allowances delay. This, he noted, was necessary if the service personnel were to perform efficiently their roles of facilitating socio-economic advancement of the country. He made the call in an address read for him by Mr. J. K.Asafo-Akowuah, Ashanti Regional Director of Social Welfare, at the opening of the 12th bi-annual congress of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) at the City Hotel in Kumasi yesterday. The theme for the four-day congress is "The youth in national service placed between the child and the aged, what help?". Mr. Mumuni also emphasised the need to give the service personnel special training to equip them to deal with development of the rural communities. "With such training, personnel of the service could help to identify priorities in the rural areas. Mr. Mumuni was unhappy with the situation where some of them refuse to accept posting to cocoa and other cash crop growing communities from where the wealth which was used in providing facilities for their education were produced.

Accra, July 1, Ghanaians and foreigners today spent Ghana's 37th Republic day celebrations at the La Pleasure Beach. As a result of this year's chilly weather, The attendance was lower compared last year's, a drinking spot owner at the beach complained. Mr. Jonathan Essien, said the low attendance this year affected his business, saying," sales fell below expectation" . Mr. A.D. Annan, vice chairman of the La Youth Association said in the past, holiday functions at the beach was organised by the Ghana tourism development Corporation (GTDC) in conjunction with private promoters but this year they appealed to the GTDC to allow them to organise it, in order to use the funds to develop the town. Another drinking spot owner who spoke on condition of anonymity, said this year's celebration was not repeat. not as successful as last year's in terms of business. He suggested that the organisation of picnics during holidays should go back to the former organisers but the proceeds could still go to the town council.

Akropong-Akuapem, July 1, An official of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called for the integration of water management and its protection into the national economic and social programmes to help protect our water resources. Mr. Felix Addo-Okyireh, Eastern regional assistant programme officer of the EPA, made the call at a symposium organised by the Green Earth Organisation (GEO) at Akropong-Akuapem. The programme, which was part of the first anniversary celebration of Okuapeman School branch of the GEO, was on the theme "Water is Life, Don't Pollute It". He called for the inclusion of chiefs as well as community and opinion leaders in the formulation and implementation of policies on the protection of water resources. "It is only when all sectors of the Ghanaian community are involved in the programme for the protection of the water resources of the country that such policies can have the desired effect''.