Trade unions, youth groups, and civil society organizations in Africa have taken to the streets of Ghana to demand debt cancellation for the continent.
The groups argue that African countries are suffering from huge debts and unfair trade systems that do not favor the continent. Together, African countries have sovereign debts of at least $2.14 trillion, with 22 countries at high risk of debt distress.
According to the groups, African countries are spending all their money to pay back loans, leaving their citizens impoverished and affecting infrastructure, education, and healthcare. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana, and other civil society groups are calling on international lending agencies and global financial institutions to cancel all debts as a form of debt reparation.
The protesters presented a petition to the President of Ghana through the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato-Forson. They want President John Mahama, in his role as African Union champion for reparations, to convey the message to donors and international agencies that they should cancel Africa’s debts because the continent is “suffocating under unsustainable debts.”
Dr. Ato-Forson agreed with the groups that governments should be transparent with loans and debts, publishing every loan agreement on a quarterly basis and explaining to citizens how the debt is being used. Ghana’s total public debt is around $67 million according to the World Bank, while neighboring Nigeria’s debt ranges around $49.95 billion as of March 2025, according to data from the Debt Management Office (DMO).
The groups believe that Africa has resources that could provide for the needs of its citizens in education, healthcare, and jobs. The demonstration aims to send a clear message that Africa will no longer accept “this system of modern neo-colonial exploitation.” Protesters carried placards and banners with messages like “Cancel Africa’s Debt Now!”, “Debt Cancellation is Reparation!”, “People-Centred AfCFTA!”, and “Stop the Bleeding!” among others.
The campaigners stated that they had written to lenders and donors through their agents and embassies to join the protest and pressure global financial institutions to listen to their demands for justice. In a statement, they said, “Civil society groups, trade unions from the continent, and other movements will deliver petitions to policymakers to demand debt cancellation, trade justice, and reforms to the global financial system.”
Prominent journalist and activist Kwesi Pratt Jnr was quoted by the Daily Graphic as saying, “No amount of money can compensate for the crimes committed against Africa by capitalist states.” He added, “What we want is a complete reset of the world and its institutions to ensure equality for all people and to build a new world where all forms of poverty and exploitation are banished forever.”
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