GHANAIAN TIMES

The Times says all is now set for the decentralisation of the processing and payment of retiring benefits to Civil and Public Servants by November 1. In a front page lead story headlined: "Pension payment reviewed...Dcentralised system begins Nov. 1", the Times says the Head of the Civil Service, Dr Robert Dodoo, announced this in Accra at the opening of a three-day seminar on "Financial management training" for over 150 accountants and financial managers drawn from ministries, departments and agencies in the Greater Accra Region. The seminar, the last in the series organised nation-wide by the Controller and Accountant-General's Department, is aimed at equipping financial operators in government institutions on the need to comply with the financial laws in the country. Dr Dodoo said letters have already been issued to all ministries, departments and agencies to that effect to ensure that retired civil/public servants are saved the problems that they encounter in their attempt to collect their retiring benefits. GRI

"Committee to probe Abednego's conduct", is the headline of another front page story in the Times. The Times reports that thje former headmaster of Tema Secondary School (TEMASCO), Mr Abednego Agyepong, has been asked to proceed on a four-week suspension pending investigations into his conduct. The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, (GES), Mr Solomon Obeng announced this in Accra yesterday. Mr Agyepong was relieved of his post by the education authorities on October 4, due to persistent drunkenness. Mr Obeng said a committee has been appointed by the GES to investigate the conduct of Mr Agyepong. It has one week to submit its report. GRI

In a back page story the Times reports that landlords in communities around the University of Cape Coast (UCC) are taking advantage of the non-residential status of fresh students to charge exorbitant rent from them. The times says its investigations have shown that some lanmdlords at Apewosika, Kakumdo, Kwesi Prah, Amoma and the surrounding areas are demanding rent advances ranging from 200,000 cedis to nearly one million cedis, depending on the type of accommodation. According to the Times Fresh students are not the only victims. Some continuing students who cannot secure accommodation in the halls of residence are also desparate looking for money to pay the rent advance. this apart from the fact that they have paid hall dues. The Times says the most disturbing development is that there are no corresponding facilities such as toilets, bathrooms and water in most of the rented houses to warrant such high rent. GRI