Today's front pages

NO VAT ON NORMAL BANKING SERVICES -- IT AFFECTS DATA PROCESSING, LEGAL , ACCOUNTING, ACTUARIAL, CONSULTING SERVICES ETC

The government has denied reports that normal banking services are to attract 17.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) levy with effect from next month.

A Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, said in an interview yesterday that salaries, savings, deposits, loans and payment with cheques were all exempted from VAT.

WE WANT TO KNOW STATUS OF OUR INVESTMEMNTS -- LET SHAREHOLDERS

Some shareholders of the Labour Enterprises Trust (LET) Company Limited are demanding the whereabouts of the money they have invested in the company since 1998.

According to the shareholders, who are mostly retired civil servants, more than 85,000 Ghanaian workers were made to buy a minimum of 100 shares at a cost of GH¢50 in 1998, with the money being deducted at source.

DRIVER KNOCKS KOWN POLICEMAN DEAD
A 23-year-old policeman died after a trotro knocked him down from the motorbike he was riding on the Dodowa-Afienya road on April 17, this year.

AFOKO WARNS NPP PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS
The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Paul Afoko, has appealed to aspirants for the flag bearer position of the party and their supporters to stop the unnecessary media circus and rally behind the new leadership to reconcile and bring unity to the party.

HOLD YOUR FIRE! AFOKO TELLS NPP
Newly-elected National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Awentimi Afoko, yesterday issued a caveat on those jostling for the flagbearership slot of the NPP to tread cautiously.

COP KILLED AT DODOWA
A 23-year-old policeman said to be riding a motorbike, was allegedly knocked down and killed by a commercial vehicle being driven by one Badu Norris at Dodowa in the Shai-Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.

BANK CUSTOMERS PANIC AT 17.5% VAT
Some members of the public have expressed anger at Government's decision to charge 17.5% on their banking  transaction with effect from next month.

DISCORD IN HFC TAKEOVER BID
There is confusion in the corridors of the power at HFC Bank, as its Managing Director, Asare Akuffo, says the bank is not aware of a mandatory offer statement issued by its single biggest investor, Republic Bank.

DON'T CHARGE VAT ON SALARIES, SAVINGS -- MoFEP
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFEP) says the revised VAT levy of 17.5% on banking services does not apply to salary and savings accounts, deposits, loans and payment with cheques.

AKOSOMBO WATER LEVEL EXPECTED TO DROP
The Akosombo Dam is expected to record poor inflow of water in the next two years, which will lead to a shortfall in electricity generated from hydro, an informed analysis of water inflow into the dam has shown.

POACHING THREATENS MOLE PARK
Tourists are becoming increasingly frustrated at the Mole National Park as they hardly set eyes on the many animal species the park used to have -- a situation blamed on killing of the animals by members of nearby communities.

DON'T SELL HFC BANK -- STAKEHOLDERS, EQUITY ANALYSTS YELL

The bid by Republic Bank of Trinidad & Tobago to acquire a majority equity stake in HFC Bank has run into stiff opposition from several Ghanaian shareholders in the bank, as well as some equity analysts and economic commentators.

KENTE INDUSTRY FACING CHALLENGES
Bonwire kente weavers say the royal and sacred cloth worn on important occasions risks extinction as a result of the numerous challenges facing the industry.

AFOKO REVEALS BLUEPRINTS FOR VICTORY
Newly elected National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Paul Afoko, has stated that his priority during  his tenure of office will be to oversee the strengthening of various structures of the party at all levels, which he describes as key to the electioneering fortunes and eventual victory of the party in the 2016 elections.

"DID THE MAHAMA PLACE CARRY GOLD TO IRAN?" -- PRESURE GROUPS ASK

Ghanaians for a Better Government, a new pressure group set  to expose bad governance and push for transparency, says the recent revelations over a trip made from the Presidency of Ghana to Iran, led by Ibrahim Mahama, brother of President Mahama, has the potential to destroy Ghana's reputation.

GYEEDA BOSS FIGHTS CRITICS OVER MAHAMA'S RESTRUCTURING ORDER

The National Coordinator of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), Kobby Acheampong, has explained issues surrounding the recent Invitation for Proposal (IFP) for the ICT module published by the Agency.

Mr Acheampong stated that while restructuring processes were ongoing, the also ought to take steps and start processes required to get some service providers which usually take longer periods.

INCREASE AKPETISHIE TAX INSTEAD OF CHURCHES' -- MoF TOLD

The head pastor of Last Stop Prayer Camp, Prophet Julius Attarchie, has admonished the Minister of Finance, Seth Terker  to push for an upward increase in taxes on locally produced alcohol, 'akpeteshie', and adopt measures to collect those levies instead of asking churches to pay tax.

WASSCE STUDENT FOUND DEAD ON CAMPUS
A final year building construction student of Suhum Secondary Technical School (SUTESCO) sitting the 2014 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has been found dead on the premises of the school.

The deceased, Kwame Opoku, 20, an asthmatic patient who hails from Accra -- Santa Maria, was found dead on the corridors of the dormitory last Saturday night.