Mr Paul Boateng, Treasury Minister in the Labour Government, has welcomed Ghana's decision to apply for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative and that Britain is looking forward to her successful completion of the processes involved.

A release issued by the Ghana High Commission in London said Mr Boateng stated this in an interview, published in the latest edition of the London-based Ghanaian newspaper, "Ghana Today".

It said Britain welcomes steps being taken by the government to address issues regarding the development of the economy and the debt issue.

Mr Boateng said there is a lot of goodwill towards President J A Kufuor's government and the people of Ghana in the UK and that Britain values the current level of its relationship with her which he said, continues to move from "strength to strength".