The Times reports on its front page that Presiding Members in the Eastern Region have called for the reduction in the number of assemblymen in view of the financial burden on district assemblies. The request was contained in communique issued at the end of their meeting at Koforidua yesterday. The Times says the Presiding Members argued that in view of the low revenue base of most assemblies and the huge financial obligations imposed on them in the payment of allowances, membership of the assemblies should be reduced to manageable levels by merging some electoral areas. According to the story headlined: "Assembly members too many...PMs complain", the Presiding Members also urged the government to reduce the number of its appointees to future assemblies. GRI

" ...Govt announces special package", is a back page headline of a Times' story which says the government yesterday announced a two million-cedi package for each member of the nation's Under-17 football squad, the Black Starlets. This is in addition to the 2,200 dollars (about five million cedis) winning bonus paid to each player at the semi-final stage of the FIFA-JVC Under-17 World Soccer Championships held in Egypt. According to the Times, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr E.T. Mensah announced this when the paid a courtesy call on President Jerry John Rawlings at the Castle, Osu. Mr Mensah said in addition to the package, the squad would be given a special treat aboard the "Dodi Princess" to the tourist centres. GRI

In a back page story, the Times reports that a pharmacist has cautioned people who cough. According to the pharmacist, people who cough for more than three weeks are likely to have tuberculosis and should report to the nearest hospital for diagnosis and early treatment. The pharmacist, Mr John Allotey of the Police Hospital TB Control Unit, gave the caution in Accra yesterday at the on-going 44th biennial conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana. Mr Allotey cautioned pharmacists not to dispense cough syrup and related drugs to such people since giving them any treatment over the counter would endanger their lives. GRI