In a speech to student representatives in Parliament House Col. Acheampong appealed for “student power” to be directed towards solving Ghana’s problems and creating a sense of national unity Student power” was “one of the greatest phenomena of our time”.  The NRC Chairman told the students “Use your student power to create the unity of all our people, to bring about the new man of the revolution, the January 13 man. We need your power working with the farmers, the industrial and office workers, to promote a new national consciousness which will inspire us to the victorious tomorrow.” He recalled that the NRC was greatly encouraged by the students response to the “January 13 Revolution”, especially their support following repudiation of some debts and their voluntary sugar cane harvesting

Col. Acheampong said that he was opposed to the students loan scheme, and would, as soon as practicable, take steps to abolish it. “I believe that every citizen has an inalienable right to free education and to the tree and unfettered development of his social and cultural well-being However, if this was to be done “some genuine effort must be made to cut down the cost of university education in areas where you stand on the borderline of luxury. What adjustments can you make which will produce enough savings to justify abolition of the scheme without complete dislocation of the national economy” He welcomed discussion on the issue and asked students to send proposals to the government for study.

The place of the Ghanaian student, continued Col. Acheampong, was more formidable than that of his European counterpart for he was, in many ways the eyes and ears of the rural communities. “Your ideas and actions influence the actions and thinking of our less fortunate brothers and sisters, especially in the rural communities”. They should therefore use this role to influence people in the positive direction in which the nation should move. He regretted the adherence of students to “Afro-culture” and observed that many African governments had taken steps to suppress it. The NRC was convinced that students had the energy and intelligence to contribute greatly to rebuilding the nation. Sometimes, however, this will was tempered by unnecessary habits which were often foreign, wasteful and retrogressive.

“We agree you should have your afternoon jumps, but for goodness sake let us get our priorities right”.

Col. Acheampong concluded by asking students to make more sacrifices such as “tolerating products of our infant agri- cultural industries like our rice which more often than not contains a chip of stone here and there and the locally produced sugar which is not as white as the one we are used to”

Forty Progress Party officials, including three MPs Mr. M. Kpama, Mr. J. B. Kaha and Mr A Ayamga- have been released from protective custody Fourteen were released in the Upper sixteen in the Western Region and six in Greater Accra So far over 1,000 people detained since the coup in January have been released

The NRC would always recognise the right of workers to combine freely for peaceful industrial action, the Commissioner of Labour, Maj. Kwame Asante told the International Labour Organisation Conference in Switzerland. Thus, he said, it had accorded the TUC and it’s affiliates all the freedom necessary for their orderly development. The NRC did not believe in a multiplicity of central  labour unions because experience had taught Ghana that “it is a retrogressive act which makes it difficult for employees to determine who to deal with in times of crisis”.

Mr. J. R. Baiden, General Secretary of the Maritime and Dock-workers Union told members of the Railway and Po… Workers Union at Takoradi that there would be no elections for new lead within the trade unions until 1970. Officers elected at the 1970 Winneba conference must serve their four-year terms; “even Mr. Bentum could come here and walk right into his office without anyone barring him”. He warned the workers to beware of “enemies of country going around spoiling the mind of the workers on trade union matter

Mr. Kojo Botsio, a former Cabin Minister under Dr. Nkrumah, said in Freetown that he would accompany the ex-President’s body back to Ghana. He travelled from London to Guinea… Dr. Nkrumah’s death. Mr. Botsio said that he would remain in Guinea until the body was returned. During his visit to Freetown he called on President Stevens.

Two witnesses before the Taylor Assets Committee have been jailed for two years each for contempt. They claimed to be agents of Chief S. Dombo, former Minister of the Interior tracking down illegal currency smuggling.

The Bank of Ghana has agreed to guarantee the payment for raw materials imported by the Ghana Cement… following demands by agents who stopped supplies. The joint state-private company, the sole producer of cement.  Ghana is understood to owe Norwegian suppliers 11m cedis.

The Agricultural Development Bank is to spend 5.2m. cedis in 1972-75 to expand its operations in the production of food crops, 34.522 acres is to be cultivated this year by the Bank… the “package deal maize scheme. It increased to 50,000 in 1973. Loans are to be granted to small-scale fishermen inside the IDA project to build larger h…

Col. S. Asante said on his…  to Lagos to take up his post as Ghana’s Commissioner that he hoped for an operation from Nigerians in the “task” of fostering closer Nigeria Ghanaian relations. The two could “ not afford to part”

The Milan Savings Bank of Italy help to re-organise Ghana’s Post Savings Bank under a draft agreement co-operation. Under the two year agreement Milan Bank is to offer training facilities for Ghanaian personnel in Italy and make available a team of experts to assist re-organisation

250 wells with hand pumps are to be drilled in Ashanti in the next first year by the Ghana Water and Sewage Corporation

The reconstituted Lands Commission has been asked to make recommendation  appropriate to the evolution of land tenure system

Photo description: During his visit to Britain the Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II. visited the Tower of London, where he inspected Britain’s crown jewels and royal regalia. He is seen here with one of the Beefeaters, the traditional guards of the Tower