accra, - mr amos larweh buertey, nominee for deputy greater accra regional minister, today said the pndc did not confiscate vacuum salts limited but only took over the remains of its interests in the songhor lagoon area. the government paid for the company's immovable properties, mr buertey told the parliamentary appointments committee.

he said a similar thing was done in 1981 when the government of hilla limann felt the land will be better used if it is in government hands.

when the minority group on the committee insisted that the land was leased and without that there was no need to win salt, members of the majority party argued that since it is a mining interest the government holds it in trust for the people.

these arguments forced mr ken dzirasah, chairman of the committee, to rule the question off.

mr buertey who is the ndc member for ada, denied allegations that he connived with the district chief executive to evade taxes on salts sold.

he said he also did not have the power to dismiss one of his accusers mr john kumordzi, from both the positiom of district party chairman and a government appointee on the district assembly.

mr buertey argued that each district in the region should encourage the establishment of satellite markets to help ease the congestion that accra faces.

these markets should be provided with all the facilities and services needed.

he said moving the capital out of accra will not solve the problem of congestion. "it could be only one of the solutions."

on the sanitation problem the region faces, mr buertey said public education targetted at residents could help.

however, he agreed with a questioner that the lack of adequate collection bins is one of the problems, adding that the assemblies should also ensure that their staff do their work.