Accra: ActionAid Ghana is set to convene a National Civil Society Dialogue on Financing for Development (F4D) in Accra, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The Non-Governmental Organization says it is in response to the country's 'worsening development crisis marked by rising debt, shrinking fiscal space, and deepening inequality.'
According to Ghana News Agency, the high-level dialogue, expected to bring together major civil society organisations (CSOs), development partners, and advocacy groups, aims to mobilise national action against what organisers describe as 'exploitative financial systems' that continue to undermine Ghana's development efforts.
Ghana's total public debt reached GHS608 billion by the end of 2023, a sharp 35.9 percent increase from the previous year, placing immense pressure on the national budget and limiting the government's ability to fund essential public services such as education, healthcare, and social protection.
'Ghana is not just dealing with a fiscal crisis - it is facing a full-blown development emergency,' Mr. John Nkaw, Country Director of ActionAid Ghana said ahead of the convening. 'This Dialogue is about reclaiming our voice, reshaping our economic future, and demanding a fair share for people - not just profits,' he stated.
Mr. Nkaw added that the current financial architecture remains rooted in outdated, colonial-era systems that disadvantage developing countries like Ghana, calling for inclusive and locally driven alternatives.
The event will feature participation from a wide range of CSOs, including Oxfam, CARE, Plan International, ISODEC, ABANTU for Development, NETRIGHT, Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Amnesty International, West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Tax Justice networks, and various youth-led groups.
The Dialogue also seeks to strengthen civil society's collective voice in demanding economic justice, climate accountability, and gender equity. According to ActionAid Ghana, low-income countries collectively spent over US$138 billion on debt servicing last year - funds that could have been redirected toward critical development goals.
The impact, it warns, is being felt most acutely by vulnerable groups, particularly women, youth, and low-income communities. The National Civil Society Dialogue is expected to culminate in a strong call for urgent, transformative reforms that place people at the centre of financial and economic policymaking.
