Minister in intervention to help donor

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell stepped in after Andrew Ward approached him over a trading ban imposed on his firm in Ghana in a row over alleged smuggling.

According to documents obtained under freedom of information laws Mr Ward wrote to the new Minister weeks after the general election asking him to lobby against the restriction.

Mr Mitchell apparently phoned the British high commissioner in Ghana, even though it was strictly outside his department's remit.

His officials also contacted the Foreign Office requesting "urgent attention" and Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham subsequently lobbied the vice-president of Ghana.

The ban is now said to have been lifted.

A spokesman for Mr Mitchell's department said the letter

was dealt with in accordance with normal Ministerial procedures and was referred to the Foreign Office through normal channels.