Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - Mr Moses Asaga, Deputy Minister of Finance, on Wednesday launched the Ghana Millennium celebrations raffle to raise funds for projects and programmes outlined for celebrations of the end of the second and start of the third millennium.

The theme for the celebrations is "Peace and Development in a Sustainable Environment." The raffle is expected to raise one billion cedis and each coupon would be sold at 2,000 cedis. The first prize is a three-bedroom house to be provided by the government and the Ghana Real Easte Developers Association (GREDA).

The second and third prizes would be a 4x4 vehicle and a saloon car respectively to be provided by two Accra motor firms. There will be 250 prizes. Mr Asaga said other prizes would include refrigerators, bicycle and cash and called on the public to participate in the raffle to make it a success.

Commodore Steve Obimpeh (rtd), Chairman, Ghana Millennium Commission, said some of the activities for the celebrations include a tree-line project on the Greenwich Meridian and community wood lots. Other activities are arts and culture projects in each district, a national durbar of chiefs, an essay competition by second cycle schools and public lectures, commemorative memorabilia, non-denominational national church services, a peace and good will conference, fireworks, a carnival and millennium awards.

Commodore Obimpeh said proceeds from the raffle would be used in creating fitting monuments to mark the event. He said the commission was aware that other organisations were planning activities to mark the millennium and urged them to liaise with the commission to ensure proper co-ordination and harmony to avoid duplication.

Colonel Martin Gbikpi, Director, Department of National Lotteries (DNL), said the department would be responsible for the sale of the tickets. He said their agents would sell the tickets with a 20 per cent commission to be deducted before payment is made to the department.

The agents could collect the tickets without deposit but would have to render account before additional tickets would be collected. Dr (Mrs) Mary Grant, Member of Council of State, who chaired the function, appealed to the Director of DNL to review the 20 per cent commission and collect all proceeds before the commission is paid to the agents.