The Chronicle says fresh intelligence reports scooped over the weekend suggest that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is split over 'overt and covert' pressure to make Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings the party's presidential candidate in the year 2000 when her husband ends his second term of office as President of Ghana. According to the paper, a number of Cabinet Ministers have the brief to sample public opinion on the acceptability or otherwise of the First Lady as the party's presidential nominee, a scenario that is unprecedented in the annals of African politics. The Chronicle says a source 'at the heart of government' spoke of arm-twisting and outright bullying on the part of supporters of Nana Konadu in the party to force the NDC to endorse the President's wife in what is expected to be the first dynasty in Ghanaian politics. GRI

In a centre spread story headlined: "Togo denies killing a Ghanaian and 69 others", the Chronicle reports that the Togolese authorities have come out strongly to deny allegations that its security forces summarily executed 69 persons in Lome in June, this year. The paper says the authorities also denied any responsibility for the alleged killings of seven other persons including a Ghanaian while they were crossing the Ghana-Togo border in February, this year. According to the Chronicle, the official denial followed a representation made to the Togolese President, Gnassingbe Eyadema by a group of European parliamentarians attending the current 25th session of the ACP-Europrean Union joint assembly in Lome. GRI

In another centre spread story the Chronicle reports the acting Ashanti Regional Minister, Mrs. Joana Appiah-Dwomoh, has said that the church and the state have complementary roles in promoting the spiritual, psychological, social and economic well-being of the people. "It is on this basis that the government has been cooperating with religious bodies in building a better and more decent society now and for posterity", she was quoted as saying. The acting Regional Minister was addressing the youth at Amakom during the inauguration of the Amakom Area Church Union Choir, last Saturday. GRI