DAILY GRAPHIC

Seven Senior Secondary School (SSS) students in the Brong Ahafo Region have, within the the year, petitioned the legal Aid Committee ove the refusal of their respective fathers to cater for their education. This is the lead story carried by the Graphic under the banner headline: "Seven petition against neglect". According to the Graphic, the students who said they were bearing the full cost of their education, are from Dormaaa, Techiman and Sunyani Secondary schools. Mr Kwame Gyan-Kontoh, Secretary to the Regional Legal Aid Committee said six of the cases have been settled by the committee adding that the parents concerned have decided to take full responsibility for the education of their children when they appeared before the committee. GRI

"Ministry warns on visa deals", is another front page of the Graphic which says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed grave concern about the increasing number of public officials who make dubious representations to diplomatic missions in the country and abroad, requesting visas for themselves, relations and friends or soliciting invitations or favours. The Graphic says a statment signed by Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister responsible for Foreign affairs, issued in Accra last night, accordingly warned that henceforth it will take criminal action against public officials and parliamentarians who make such false representations. The statement said such acts will also be made public, citing three separate instances in which government officials have misconducted themselves in such manner. GRI

In a story on the back page of the Graphic, the Finance Minister, Mr Kwame Peprah, has called on insurance companies to study critically the insurance market and evolve life insurance premiums which will appeal to both the formal and informal sectors. The story, headlined: "Make insurance attractive - Peprah", the Minister said whereas in some countries, the insurance business has made significant strides on long-term funds mobilisation for national development, in ghana the business has moved in the opposite direction. Mr Peprah was launching the Metropolitan Insurance Gold Plan in accra today. The Gold Plan is a savings scheme backed by life assurance and consists of a flexible combination of life insurance and a high interest accumulation account in a single package. The scheme seeks to access 90 per cent work-force, mostly in the informal sector not covered by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). GRI