Daily Graphic

"Dollarisation is not good for economy - Duffour", is a centre spread headline in the Graphic. The accompanying story quotes Dr Kwabena Duffour, Governor of the Bank of Ghana as saying dollarisation of the economy has serious implications for monetary policy, government budget financing and exchange rate management. Dr Duffour, the paper says, has therefore advised Ghanaians not to politicise such an important national issue. According to the paper, the Central Bank boss said it is disturbing for some Ghanaians to argue that because the cedi is weak, "they do not see anything wrong with Ghanaians opting for the U.S. dollar or the pound sterling". "We are told that we should stabilise the cedi first and the dollarisation will cease. This is ridiculous! How can a dam be full when there are big pipes continuously drawing the water away?", the Graphic quoted him as saying. GRI

"State burial for Limann", reports the Graphic. The paper reports in its main front page story that the late former President of Ghana, Dr Hilla Limann, is to be accorded a state burial. Dr Limann who died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital last Friday, was President of the Third Republic, from September 1979 to December 1981. The Graphic says Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Minister of Defence, made the announcement when he led a 12-member government and NDC delegation to console the widow, Mr Fulera Limann and the family at their Teshie-Nungua residence on Saturday. GRI

In an another front page story heading: "President's birthday funds now for Heart Foundation", the Graphic reports that an amount of 150 million cedis realised at a dinner/dance organised to mark President Jerry John Rawlings' 50th birthday anniversary, is to be paid to the National Heart Foundation. The paper quoting a statement issued by the anniversary planning committee, says the event, initiated by the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, was purposely organised to raise funds for the Cardio-Thoracic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. GRI

The Graphic reports in an inside page story that the National Public Education Committee (NPEC) on the Value Added Tax (VAT), will withdraw some of the advertisements on the VAT and replace them with new ones. The paper says the action follows an evaluation of the impact of the adverts on the public and also to reflect feedback. GRI