MR. JAKE OBETSEBI-Lamptey, Minister for Information and Presidential Affairs has said that negotiations are far advanced with our external partners to re-channel more than $200 million meant to service debt this year to support local small scale and indigenous businesses to expand their work and create jobs and wealth for the ordinary people.

Obetsebi-Lamptey said donors have faith in the development-oriented policy of the government and are prepared to support the nation resolve its economic problems.

He disclosed this when addressing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) branch of the Kpone-Katamanso Constituency-organized get-together to award certificates of merit to 312 polling agents at Kpone over the weekend.

He said 20 years of mismanagement has made the nation poorer and called on all Ghanaians, irrespective of party affiliation, to help chart the right course to put the economy on a sound footing.

"We did not create HIPC, neither did we find it, but we met it and it behoves all of us to lend our support to get us out of this economic doldrum", he added.

He thanked the polling agents for their commitment and vigilance that has brought the NPP into power after many years in the political wilderness.

He also charged the youth to religiously guide the government and help sustain the democratic process which they have helped to build, and promised that their effort would not be in vain.

Mr. Ishmael Ashietey, Minister for Fisheries in his address advised the executive to stop all internal bickerings which, he said, retard progress, and urged them to launch out to win the constituency they have twice lost.

Other speakers were S. E. A. Narh, Tema Municipal Assembly Chief Executive and Lord Commey, National Organiser.