Top Tips For Winter Trips! - 2006

"The Christmas break is fast approaching; indeed for some of us it may already have started! If you haven't already completed your Christmas shopping, there's still just about enough time to zip to the States and back to hammer that credit card and take advantage of the strong pound -- or to cross the Channel to enjoy the continental Christmas markets.

In fact, according to recent research by Sainsbury's bank, nearly 12% of us aren't even planning to spend Christmas in the UK this year, with Spain and France being our top destinations.

What's more, from asking around I've discovered that a fair few people aren't even thinking about Christmas, as they've moved onto planning next year's holiday, instead!
If you're about to book a holiday, or about to take one you've already booked, here are some tips for things to remember for a stress free time:

1. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If your trip is to Europe, do make sure you have a European Health Insurance card (EHIC). It entitles you to free, or reduced cost State medical treatment in any of the EU countries, plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland (Switzerland also applies the EHIC arrangement through an agreement with the EU).

The quickest way to apply is online, over the phone (tel. 0845 606 2030) or by filling in an application form at the Post Office. The card should take between 7 and 10 days to arrive. You can also apply for your spouse and any children under 16 at the same time; just make sure you have all dates of birth and any applicable National Insurance numbers.

Remember, carrying the EHIC card is a requirement for UK citizens in many EU countries. And remember, it only entitles you to basic medical care"

Ghana VAT Secretariat gets TOUGH

"VAT Secretariat retrieves about 11 billion cedis'' -
Accra, Dec. 15, GNA -

The VAT Service Secretariat has so far retrieved about 11 billion cedis out of the total debt of 20 billion cedis owed the Service through distress actions it took to meet its tax collection target set for the year.

Following the distress actions, many businesses and companies had been closed down in some parts of the country in an effort to collect and recover the total debts owed, Mr Henry Sam, Head of the Enforcement Team, told the Ghana News Agency.

Three Accra Companies 96 the Mobile World, dealers in mobile phones owed 511.4 million cedis; Research and Marketing Services Ghana Limited owed 65.1 million cedis and Sunspot Hotel, which owed 95 million cedis, - were all closed down for defaulting in the payment of the tax.

When the Enforcement Team got to the Sunspot Hotel at the Airport Residential area, things took a different turn when some school children that had paid to use the poolside, demanded a refund of their money creating confusion between the workers and the children at the premises.

Other companies which defaulted included GIANT International Ghana Limited in Accra, which owed 83.7 million and Compudist Ghana Limited 62.3 million cedis.

Mr Sam said the defaulting period ranged from between six months and two years and the amount involved depended on the returns filed by the various companies.

He said the distress action came as a last resort after all means to collect the debt has failed. 'Even with that we issue them with a final demand notice before the action', he said. He urged all businesses registered with VAT to treat the Service with respect and to act within the time frame to avoid being embarrassed through this distressful action.

32 Drug smugglers arrested on one flight!!

Source : GNA, 15 December 2006

"32 'drug smugglers' arrested on one flight

... 28 Nigerians & 1 Ghanaian
AMSTERDAM — Military police at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam have arrested 32 suspected drug smugglers on one flight.

The suspects were on board a flight from Casablanca in Morocco to Schiphol on Sunday, it was revealed on Friday.

The suspects were allegedly carrying swallowed balls of drugs in their stomach.

These types of suspects are referred to in Dutch as 'bolletjesslikkers' (ball swallowers).

A military police spokesman said it was an 'exceptionally' large number of suspects.

Military police search all passengers on flights coming from 'risk areas', but conducted a targeted operation on the Morocco flight after suspicions were triggered.

Some 28 of the suspects were Nigerian. The others came from the US, Ghana and Liberia.

The military police spokesman said drug smugglers are seeking new drug routes to evade the 100 percent inspections on flights from the Caribbean area."