The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana has intensified pressure on government to urgently address the country’s ballooning public debt, which has now surged past GH¢800 billion, raising concerns about its devastating impact on development and livelihoods.
According to the union, the unsustainable debt burden is squeezing national resources, leaving little fiscal space for critical investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social welfare.
This, the TUC argues, is worsening the living conditions of ordinary Ghanaians, particularly workers whose incomes have been eroded by inflation and high taxes.
On Friday, August 29, the TUC presented a strongly worded petition to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra, as part of a coordinated effort to draw continental attention to the issue of rising debt across Africa.
TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah, who led the delegation, cautioned that Ghanaian workers will not remain passive while the nation sinks deeper into a debt crisis. He hinted at possible industrial action or mass protests if the government fails to take immediate and concrete steps to reduce the debt and prioritize investments in public services.
“We want to announce our presence to the Government of Ghana through AfCFTA that if nothing is done about our debt, which is denying us better schools, hospitals, and basic amenities, Ghanaians will be forced to act,” Mr. Ansah declared.
He added that the petition was not only a call to the Ghanaian government but also part of a broader push for African governments to adopt responsible borrowing and transparent debt management practices in order to safeguard future generations.
The petition was received by Albert Kan-Dapaah Jnr, Senior Advisor to the Secretary-General of AfCFTA, on behalf of the Secretariat. He assured the TUC that the concerns would be duly communicated to the appropriate authorities.
