■ Back to Barracks: To the end there were those in Ghana and outside who wondered whether the soldiers and policemen would really hand over power to civilians. ■ Chad France and the Rebellion: The Chad war is showing all the 4 signs of becoming an issue in French domestic politics. Since July the rebellion there has been the subject of a number of press commentaries, the most dramatic of which have been last week's three article ■ VALCO in the new Ghana : 2: Under the agreement establishing the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO), which operates the aluminium smelter at Tema, and which is the biggest user of the Volta Dam’s power ■ Prospects for Cocoa: This week, immediately after the end of the celebrations marking the return to civilian rule. Ghana’s 1969-70 main cocoa crop buying season opens. For the success of civilian rule the seasons results are likely to be more important than the celebrations. ■ Books and publications: Reprinting history: The occupation of Hausaland 1980-1984 being a translation of Arabic letters found in the house of the Wazir of Sokoto, Buhari in 1903 edited with an introduction by H. F. Blackwell and with a new introductory note by M. Haskett Journal of an African cruiser by Horatio Bridge ■ Commercial news: Aid, the bank and the fund: World bank aid commitments increased by 87 per cent jn the year ending last June 30 compared with 1967-68 says the annual report ■ Dateline Africa: Ghana: Second republic takes over: On Oct 1 Ghana returned to full civilian rule under the second republic when the National Liberation Council handed over power to the government headed by Dr Kofia Busia