DAILY GRAPHIC

The Graphic reports in its main front page story that the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) has stated that unti the security of its workers is guaranteed, it will not return to the Sanzule Camp near Eikwe in the Western Region, housing Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees. In a front page splash: "Red Cross boycotts refugee camp...After attack on officials at Sanzule", the story says GRCS withdrew its services to the camp last Wednesday following an attack on its officials and those of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) by the refugees. The Graphic says during the disturbances, enraged refugees charged on the workers of GRCS, threatened the life of a UNHCR representative and made away with communication equipment belonging to GRCS and some electric bulbs. In an interview with newsmen in Accra, Mr Sulley Sumani, GRCS Co- ordinator for Disaster, said a report from the camp showed that the main cause of the disturbance was the distribution of vegetable oil, drugs and the re- registration of about 300 Liberian refugees who returned from their country after voting in their presidential election. GRI

"Nigeria reacts to ECG story", is the headline of another front page story in the Graphic. The story saysthe Nigerian High Commissioner in Accra has stated that Union Electric Company Limited, a Nigerian with which the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) entered into a contract for the refurbishment of 44 burnt transformers, is neither non-existent nor intends to defraud the ECG. According to the Graphic the High Commission said "officials of the ECG, have been to Nigeria on several occasions for talks with officials of Union Electric Nigeria Limited on this matter. Hence allegations of the non-existent and the fraudulent intent on the part of the Nigerian company in the Ghanaian media, are rather unfortunate". GRI

In another front page story the Graphic says the Volta River Authority (VRA) has indicated that it will incur an estimated loss of over 120 billion cedis by the end of the year which will be carried on to next year if the new electricity tariff is not implemented. The Graphic reports that Mr Joshua Ofedie, Director of Finance of VRA expressed this concern when the Minister of Mines and Energy, Mr Fred Ohene Kena paid a familiarisation visit to some of the agencies under the ministry. According to the paper, Mr Ofedie explained that the falling value of the cedi and the high cost of materials required for operations by the VRA, made it necessary for it to ask for tariff increase. GRI