"Exposed! Chiefs in Visa Connection" ... 10mC for single visa.. office of President mentioned, is the banner headline story in the Chronicle. The story says months of intensive investigations in the country, parts of Europe and America, have revealed that chiefs in ghana have been using their links with the National democratic Congress (NDC) to deceive the diplomatic community by obtaining visas for unscrupulous people to leave the country under the cover of the chieftaincy institution. The Chronicle says even though Article 276, clause (1) of the 1992 constitution states that a chief shall not take part in active party politics and any chief wishing to to do so or seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool, documents in Ghanaian Chronicle vault lists a number of chiefs who are members of the NDC and are using their party affiliation to dupe people. The Chronicle says it is compiling names of the chiefs and will publish themin its subsequent editions. According to the paper, documents available to it indicate that various chiefs have used the Office of the President and the NDC National Headquarters to obtain visas for people and received huge sums of money from them. GRI

Accra, Aug 8,- Mr David Sarpong Boateng, Minister of state said last night that the historical, cultural and socio-political links between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, need no rpt no further elaboration. "Consanguine ties between peoples of our two countries, provide the basis for continuous harmonious and mutually-beneficial relations between our two countries," he said. Mr Boateng was replying to a toast proposed by the Ivorian Ambassador in Ghana, Mr Amon Tanoe Emmanuel, to mark the 37th independence anniversary of Cote d'Ivoire which fell yesterday. He said it was for this reason that recent attempts at transforming these relations into a more concrete economic interaction should be hailed. "The historic visit by President Konan Bedie to Ghana as a special guest of our 40th independence anniversary celebrations, market a major turning point in our relations. "Indeed our efforts at sub-regional economic integration will, to a large extent, be inspired by the vibrance of our bilateral relations, Mr Boateng added. The Minister said, "considering the importance of sub-regional economic integration for our peoples, we can appreciate better the choices our two countries have made". Proposing the toast Mr Tanoe said "today we make it a point of honour to appreciate our relations in all fields with Ghana, our neighbouring country". He asked for God's blessing for the leaders of the two country to enable them to lead their countries in peace to a successful goal. " We pray to the Lord to fill the hearts and minds of each of our citizens with love and fraternity so that together, we shall work to achieve happiness for Ghanaians and Ivorians".