Add source Login
'Debt cancellation is reparative justice' - Hundreds rally in Accra for fair trade and Pan-African unity

'Debt cancellation is reparative justice' - Hundreds rally in Accra for fair trade and Pan-African unity

"Members of trade unions, civil society groups, and youth organisations marched through Accra on Friday in a pan-African rally calling for debt cancellation and a fairer global trade system. Footage shows demonstrators marching with signs reading 'Protect workers, protect Africa's future' and 'Drop the debt, Africa can't breathe', waving African flags and chanting 'We won't pay! We don't owe!' as they pass Africa Trade House and listen to speeches. "The biggest problem that Africa is facing as a continent is that of its current debt burden," proclaimed Chenai Mukumba, Tax Justice Network Africa Executive Director, noting that some countries spend up to 50 percent of their revenue paying off debts. She underscored, "That's problematic because it means insufficient resources being allocated to very key public sector services as well as, for example, infrastructure." Protesters demanded an end to what they described as an 'unjust world economic system' that forces African governments to spend more on debt servicing than on healthcare and education. Donald Deya, Chief Executive of the Pan African Lawyers Union, condemned Africa's debt as 'a continuation of colonialism' and 'a crime against Africa', stressing that any relief must go "to schools, to hospitals, to better infrastructure, to industry and therefore to jobs and for a life of dignity." Ghanaian Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson argued that debt restructuring should also apply to multilateral institutions. "The comparable treatment clause must not only be limited to domestic and commercial debt holders as well as bilateral debt holders; it must also extend to multilateral development banks." Union leaders framed the call for debt relief as part of a reparative justice initiative. Joshua Ansah, Ghana Trades Union Congress Secretary-General, said the mobilisation was a unified message to creditors: "Cancel Africa's debt now as an act of reparative justice." Campaigners further urged full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area to strengthen intra-African trade and create decent jobs. "Our hope is in our unity, our solidarity and our cohesion," voiced Akhator Joel Odigie, International Trade Union Confederation Africa General Secretary. Ghana's public debt currently stands at about 67 billion USD (57.3 billion EUR), according to the World Bank, while Nigeria's is close to 50 billion USD (42.7 billion EUR). Across Africa, countries collectively owe over 2.14 trillion USD (1.83 trillion EUR), with 22 nations at high risk of debt distress."

'Debt cancellation is reparative justice' - Hundreds rally in Accra for fair trade and Pan-African unity

'Debt cancellation is reparative justice' - Hundreds rally in Accra for fair trade and Pan-African unity

"Members of trade unions, civil society groups, and youth organisations marched through Accra on Friday in a pan-African rally calling for debt cancellation and a fairer global trade system. Footage shows demonstrators marching with signs reading 'Protect workers, protect Africa's future' and 'Drop the debt, Africa can't breathe', waving African flags and chanting 'We won't pay! We don't owe!' as they pass Africa Trade House and listen to speeches. "The biggest problem that Africa is facing as a continent is that of its current debt burden," proclaimed Chenai Mukumba, Tax Justice Network Africa Executive Director, noting that some countries spend up to 50 percent of their revenue paying off debts. She underscored, "That's problematic because it means insufficient resources being allocated to very key public sector services as well as, for example, infrastructure." Protesters demanded an end to what they described as an 'unjust world economic system' that forces African governments to spend more on debt servicing than on healthcare and education. Donald Deya, Chief Executive of the Pan African Lawyers Union, condemned Africa's debt as 'a continuation of colonialism' and 'a crime against Africa', stressing that any relief must go "to schools, to hospitals, to better infrastructure, to industry and therefore to jobs and for a life of dignity." Ghanaian Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson argued that debt restructuring should also apply to multilateral institutions. "The comparable treatment clause must not only be limited to domestic and commercial debt holders as well as bilateral debt holders; it must also extend to multilateral development banks." Union leaders framed the call for debt relief as part of a reparative justice initiative. Joshua Ansah, Ghana Trades Union Congress Secretary-General, said the mobilisation was a unified message to creditors: "Cancel Africa's debt now as an act of reparative justice." Campaigners further urged full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area to strengthen intra-African trade and create decent jobs. "Our hope is in our unity, our solidarity and our cohesion," voiced Akhator Joel Odigie, International Trade Union Confederation Africa General Secretary. Ghana's public debt currently stands at about 67 billion USD (57.3 billion EUR), according to the World Bank, while Nigeria's is close to 50 billion USD (42.7 billion EUR). Across Africa, countries collectively owe over 2.14 trillion USD (1.83 trillion EUR), with 22 nations at high risk of debt distress."