DAILY GRAPHIC

"EXPOSED...Plans to dump toxic waste in the country", is the banner headline of the lead story on the front page of the Graphic. The Graphic reports that a number of foreign toxic waste disposal companies have been making contacts through "subsidiaries" in Ghana ostensibly to dump hazardous waste in the country. The companies from Europe and America, front as capable of recycling imported waste into energy to supplement Ghana's shrinking energy sources. A source close to the Office of the President told the Graphic yesterday that the government has seen through these and resisted attempts to turn the country into "anyone's rubbish dump". According to the source, the latest in the series of such attempts is one by a US-based company known as VALERI D'BASH Corp., representing the MIR International. GRI

In another front page story the Graphic reports the Deputy Minister of Education, Mr Kwabena Kyere as saying that the government will not cut down on its expenditure to the detriment of progress and development. The government, he said, will rather "spend wisely" to develop the country to improve the living conditions of the people, especially those in the rural communities. The Graphic says Mr Kyere who was speaking at the inauguration of the Ashanti Region branch of the "Verandah Boys and Girls Club in Kumasi last Saturday, said the government will not cut down its expenditure at the expense of building roads to open up the country. GRI

The Graphic reports on its back page that personnel from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have been assigned to the various private lotto agencies (Banker to Banker) to monitor the submission of their weekly returns for proper assessment and deduction of the 15 per cent lotto tax. The Graphic says sources close to the IRS explain that the personnel have been charged to check all declared returns against lotto coupons or booklets submitted to ensure that correct tax on lotto coupons sold are deducted. A 15 per cent lotto tax was imposed this year under the Service Tax Act (Act 501) of 1995. It took effect from August, this year. Under the Act, lotto stakers pay 15 per cent tax for every lotto coupon bought. GRI