Accra, May 12, 2025 – President John Dramani Mahama has urged African governments to unite behind a single set of demands at the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg, insisting that only a coordinated approach can secure debt‐restructuring terms that are timely, equitable and transparent .
Mahama delivered his appeal at the opening session of the African Union Conference on Debt in Lomé, Togo, emphasizing that fragmented negotiations have weakened Africa’s bargaining power . He reminded delegates that the 2025 G20 Summit is scheduled for November 22–23, underscoring the urgency of presenting unified proposals on debt relief and restructuring frameworks .
Standardized Transparency Benchmarks: The former president advocated for continent‐wide debt‐reporting standards to ensure all African Union (AU) members disclose consistent, comparable data on liabilities and obligations .
Climate and Development Integration: He called for the incorporation of climate adaptation and sustainable development goals into national debt strategies, so that financing supports both fiscal stability and social progress
Regional Financial Infrastructure: Mahama insisted on the full activation of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and the African Monetary Institute to reduce foreign-exchange bottlenecks and lower transaction costs across intra-African trade
In a stirring keynote, Mahama urged delegates to reframe debt not as an existential threat but as a tool for capacity building. “Let us leave here with a renewed vision where debt is no longer synonymous with crisis, but with capacity,” he said, adding that African nations must stand “not as debtors pleading for relief, but as partners demanding reform” .
Mahama concluded by pledging Ghana’s solidarity: “Ghana stands ready, shoulder to shoulder with our fellow African nations to champion this agenda,” he affirmed, urging collective courage, clarity and commitment to overcome the continent’s debt challenges and secure prosperity for future generations .
0 Comments