Ghana Telecom to go mobile
6 boats seized by CEPS…For tax evasion
Robbers caught with 13mC
Kumasi GPRTU gives Akwasi Agyeman ultimatum
Ghana Telecom to go Mobile
The expansion programme of Ghana Telecom is given prominence on the front page of the Daily Graphic. The paper reports that Ghana Telecom, the country’s leading telecommunication service provider, would launch its Mobile Network by the first quarter of next year.
The Graphic says initially, the network will cover Accra/Tema, Kumasi, Obuasi and Takoradi. It will later be expanded to all regional and district capitals.
The paper quotes a source close to Telecom Management as saying that the equipment for the project are being shipped while site preparations are in progress for the network to take off between December, this year and the first quarter of year 2000. Management of Telecom expects that by March, next year, all regional capitals would be networked to the "GSM" system and that by December, 2001, most of the district capitals and road coverage linking Accra-Kumasi, Accra-Takoradi and Accra-Aflao, would come on stream.
According to the source, tariffs for charges are being worked out and would be made known prior to the launching of the service.
GRi../
6 boats seized by CEPS…For tax evasion
The Ghanaian Times reports in its lead story that six fishing boats belonging to two Chinese companies operating at Tema, have been impounded by the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
The vessels belonging to Zhongha Fisheries and Afrik Shangang Limited, were said to have been seized following a tax dispute between them and CEPS. While CEPS says that the companies owe Ghana about 2.4 billion cedis, including 300 per cent penalty in tax arrears, the management of the two companies say otherwise.
The Times says the dispute has forced the six vessels to berth at the Tema Fishing Harbour for the past four months. According to investigations conducted by the paper, the companies maintained that the fish for which CEPS demanded duties, including VAT, were caught in Ghana’s territorial waters.
The fish were therefore exempted from the duties being levied by CEPS. The Times quotes a source as saying for the four months seizure, over 108 crew members of the vessels have been rendered unemployed while the staff have not been aid for the last three months.
GRi../
Robbers caught with 13mC
In another front-page story the Times says two men who attempted to escape with 13 million cedis they had stolen from a parked car at Accra New Town on Wednesday, were caught by a mob and handed over to the police.
The money was also retrieved from them by the mob. The paper says two other accomplices, however, managed to escape. According to the story, a man (name withheld) cashed the money at the Achimota branch of the Barclays Bank, on the Accra-Kumasi road. He parcelled the money in a black polythene bag and kept it at the back seat of his car.
The Times says from there, he drove to the ‘Mallam Atta’Market at Accra New Tow and parked in front of a shop ad went in. When he returned to the car within a few minutes, he discovered that the money was not there.
GRi../
Kumasi GPRTU gives Akwasi Agyeman ultimatum
In a front page screamer, the Free Press says the controversy over the construction of nearly 150 stores and stalls at the rehabilitated Kejetia Lorry Station in Kumasi is expected to come to a head on Monday, October 18, if the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) carries out its threat to demolish the stores.
The paper says equally determined to stop the demolition are several traders, who are claiming that they have paid 16 million cedis each to Nana Akwasi Agyeman, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, in respect of the structures being assured that the project has the blessings of the metropolitan authorities.
The Free Press notes that as tension mounts over the Kejetia project, the mystery over who authorised the construction of the stores and stalls deepens because Nana Akwasi Agyeman has flatly denied ever authorising the construction of the structures although the angry prospective tenants are swearing that the Metropolitan Chief Executive is deeply involved in the building of the stalls and that he had knowledge of the payments they have made.
GRi../