Accra: The Global Call to Action Against Poverty, Ghana (GCAP-Ghana), a coalition of civil society organizations, has urged its global affiliates to join forces in backing the Climate and Economic Justice Campaign for the years 2025-2026. This appeal was articulated in a statement co-signed by Mr. Ben Lartey, the National Coordinator, and Kenneth Nana Amoateng, the Co-coordinator of GCAP-Ghana, in commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2025. This initiative is also part of the GCAP-Ghana Peoples' Charter 2025 activities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the statement emphasized that Africa is at a pivotal point. Despite global pledges to ensure no one is left behind, poverty and inequality are escalating. It highlighted that over 430 million Africans are living in extreme poverty (World Bank, 2025), and more than 60 percent of the workforce is confined to vulnerable or informal employment. The statement further underscored that debt servicing in sub-Saharan Africa is consuming 47 percent of government revenues, which diverts crucial resources away from education, health, and climate adaptation.
The campaign for climate and economic justice, themed 'UNITE TO ACT,' has been launched to tackle these interconnected injustices. It aims to unify movements across Africa to advocate for structural reform of global finance, debt cancellation, equitable taxation, grant-based climate funding, and the right to universal social protection. GCAP-Ghana emphasized, "We stand with all to demand urgent actions to address insurmountable debt crisis, rising hunger, loss of livelihoods, climate change, wars and conflicts, shrinking civic space and press freedom, critical gaps in healthcare and social protection."
GCAP-Ghana also highlighted that Africa's combined public debt reached 1.8 trillion US dollars in 2025, with at least half of all low-income countries in debt distress or at high risk (IMF, 2025). In countries like Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, and Malawi, debt service obligations surpass spending on health, education, and social protection. They noted that illicit financial flows exceed 88 billion US dollars annually, draining resources that could transform local economies and bolster climate resilience.
The coalition stressed that the current challenges go beyond the capacity of any single person, government, or organization. They encouraged collective action, stating, "GCAP-Ghana is confident in the ability of humanity to unite to act for a sustainable future for all. Our driving force behind UNITE TO ACT is an invitation to all voices that have historically been marginalized to come together and take a stand on our sustainability journey."
On behalf of marginalized communities in Ghana and worldwide, GCAP-Ghana expressed confidence that the commitments under Agenda 2030 for economic, social, and climate justice can be realized by focusing on poverty eradication, decent jobs, access to clean water and a healthy environment, climate and social justice, universal social protection floors, and universal health coverage and education. Other coalition members include the AbibiNsroma Foundation, GLONEHDO, Assorted Water Alliance, Janok Foundation, and Plastic Police Project.
