This week, we presented 22,448 petition actions calling for a debt justice law to 10 Downing Street, including Ghanaian debt campaigner Bernard’s open letter to the prime minister – co-signed by nearly 4,000 Debt Justice supporters.
The bill that could make this new law a reality is currently going through parliament so we wanted to make sure our demands for action on the debt crisis are being heard loud and clear.
This week, on 6 March, Ghana is celebrating nearly seven decades of independence from British colonialism. But the legacy of British rule for countries like Ghana includes a heavy reliance on cash crops and metals – whose prices can be unpredictable. In recent years the pandemic, spiralling energy costs and high interest rates have all pushed lower-income countries like Ghana into debt crisis.
Last summer, some of Ghana’s private lenders reached a limited agreement with the government to reduce the country’s debt. But others have refused to join in, instead holding out for more profit. That’s why we need a new law to help get debts cancelled.
Ghana is one of 54 countries in debt crisis. This year we’re joining allies around the world in the biggest global debt movement in decades, to demand world leaders take action and Cancel Debt, Choose Hope.