ActionAid Ghana is set to convene a National Civil Society Dialogue to demand fair financing for development. This comes as the country grapples with a rising debt and inequality crisis.
In a statement dated Tuesday, May 13, 2025, ActionAid described the country’s economic situation as a “full-blown development emergency” and is mobilising civil society organisations to demand fair and inclusive financing solutions.
The group is convening a National Civil Society Dialogue and Mobilisation on Financing for Development (F4D) on May 14, 2025, in Accra.
“This is not just a dialogue—it is a movement for justice. Ghana’s debt situation is not sustainable. We are not only facing a fiscal crisis; we are dealing with a development breakdown that threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions,” Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, John Nkaw said.
Ghana’s public debt surged to GH¢608 billion by the end of 2023—a 35.9 percent increase from the previous year. ActionAid says this rapid debt accumulation, coupled with illicit financial flows and shrinking development aid, is robbing the country of the resources needed to provide quality public services.
“Last year alone, low-income countries paid over 138 billion US dollars in debt servicing. That’s money that should have gone into building schools, equipping hospitals, and responding to climate shocks. We must replace the exploitative global financial systems with bold, inclusive and locally owned solutions,” Mr Nkaw noted.
The upcoming dialogue will host several civil society organisations including OXFAM, CARE, Plan International, ISODEC, ABANTU for Development, NETRight, Ghana Integrity Initiative, Amnesty International, WACSI, Catholic Relief Services, Tax Justice networks, and youth-led groups.
“These organisations represent the conscience of our nation. Together, we will speak out against corporate tax abuse, policy injustice and the economic systems that continue to fail the most vulnerable,” Jacqueline Parditey, Communications Lead at ActionAid Ghana stressed.
The dialogue is built around four main demands:
– The introduction of progressive, gender-responsive, and climate-smart tax reforms.
– Immediate measures to stop illicit financial flows and corporate tax evasion.
– Increased investments in gender-responsive public services such as education, healthcare, and social protection.
– The creation of sustainable funding pathways for civil society groups to ensure long-term impact.
“We cannot continue to tax the poor while giving multinational corporations a free ride,” said Afia Sarpong, a youth activist participating in the event. “Women and young people are paying the highest price for this broken economic order.”
Nkaw added that the dialogue will kick off a coordinated campaign calling for economic justice, climate responsibility and gender equity.
“We are taking back our power. This is about holding governments and global institutions accountable for the systems that are keeping us poor.”
