"Death on Ropes" is one of the headlines of the Independents. Underneath the headline is a picture of a lifeless body of a boy hanging head down on an electricity pole. The story says 19 year old Kwesi Ata of Kumasi Atonsu, was electrocuted by high tension electricity wires when he attempted effecting an electrical connection. According to AMA, his sister, Kwesi decided to connect the family house to an electrical pole near Georgia Telecom, at the time he believed all the lights in the Atonsu area were off. Unfortunately, the lights came on when he was about to descend from the pole. Whereupon he was electrocuted by the tremendous rush of power and died on the spot.

ABLEKUMA CENTRAL BY ELECTIONS: NPP's SEAT IN DANGER - Another front page story of the Indpendent gives a detailed account of attempts by the Ruling NDC to win the Ablemuma seat. The story states that the Ablekuma Central parliamentary seat, which belongs to the NPP presently, if won by the NDC will mean that they have a two thirds (2/3) majority. Something which the paper says has been a long cherished dream of the NDC becuase it will allow them to amend the constitution if they so wish. The paper reports that the NDC is leaving nothing to chance. Various meetings and strategies to prepare the grounds for what was called on "effective victory" are said to have been held by the party. Meanwhile the NPP, the major opposition, are also reportedly doing everything within their power to retain the seat they won in the 1996 election. The story continues, that the NPP has narrowed to two from five the choice of possible candidate for the election. Aside of having to contend with each other, the Ruling NDC and opposing NPP are reported to be bothered by the prospects of having to fight minor parties such as the Convention Party (CP) and People's National Convention (PNC), the Party of the late President Hilla Limman. Political Pundits believe that the choice of candidates will be largely based on ethno-religious factors. The Ablekuma Central seat became vacant following the death of the incumbent NPP member, C.S. Crabbe earlier in the month. The election on March 26 nearly a month away is predicted as being a deciding factor in the NPP - NDC struggle for power in Ghana

P & P ***** The front page of this local tabloid 'People and Places' carries the story of an "angry woman who stormed their office" to declare, "I had miscarriage after taking Pastor Joshua's Koko" The story has it that a Pastor Joshua Adjei of the "Bread of Life Evangelistic Ministry" held a revival at Achimota sometime last week. He is said to have among other things prayed over bowls of porridge (koko) claiming that it will the wishes of whoever drank it. He sold koko at varying prices. The woman in the story named Madam Abla complained that she bought ?10,000 worth of the porridge and a miscarriage the day after drinking it. Pastor Adjei when confronted had this to say for himself: "What spirit was it that was in the woman when she came here? Many confessed that they were possessed and got delivered. She should have come back. The pregnancy was of the devil. God will never destroy what is good". Madam Abla is reported to have gone to the church for prayers for the success of her marriage.