Accra, (Greater Accra) 30 Nov. '98, The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the government to take immediate steps to address social problems so as to save the country from a disaster.

A statement issued in Accra said: "NPP believes that the growing phenomena of infant vendors, teenage pregnacies and famale criminality can only be the result of the bankrupt economic policies of the NDC government, which have made living a real burden for Ghanaian parents.

The NPP said this with reference to two publications in the "Daily Graphic" and the "Ghanaian Times" of Friday, November 20, 1998, and expressed shock that Ghanaians as young as 15 years are alleged to be involved in armed robbery.

"Indeed, the party is outraged that such young Ghanaians, including girls, should have attained the status of hardened criminals as reported in the papers."

The party noted that this development is taking place after the outcry against teenage pregnancies, which have been on the increase in recent years, saying these cannot be divorced from the new culture of infant street traders, many only just out of the toddler stage.