Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, a Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, has told Parliament that Ghana's debt, including contingent liability from COCOBOD, at the end of last September stood at US$ 7,652.46 million.

The debt, he said, was made up of US$3,990.38 for external including that of the COCOBOD of US$ 118.75 million, and a domestic debt of US$ 3,662.

Dr Osei gave the figures last Thursday on the floor of the House as he answered a question asked by Mr. Abuga Pele (NDC-Chiana Paga), in the name of Dr Benjamin Kumbuor (NDC/Lawra Nandom) on Ghana's total debt situation as at October 31, 2008.

Amidst heckling, attempts were made by some members of the largest Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) to get the breakdown, as to how much of the debt government had paid since it came to power in 2001.

However, Mr Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker who presided and the Minister both advised that the questions be posed "properly" for answers to be provided.