In a statement, the Christian Council said, “The leadership of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has followed with deep interest, the ongoing debates about debt restructuring in the country. After various discussions with some stakeholders on Ghana’s economy, we are convinced that the whole process needs to be suspended until broader consultations have been made.
With the current economic hardships in the country and the agitations among the general public, the Christian Council argued that it is in the nation’s interest for the Finance Ministry to suspend the 31St January deadline given to individuals to sign on to the program and “rather propose a road map for dialogue to make the process participatory such that the outcome would be acceptable to all”.
Below is the full statement by the Christian Council
SUSPEND DEBT RESTRUCTURING PROGRAM AND ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS
The leadership of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has followed with deep interest, the on-going debates about debt restructuring in the country. After various discussions with some stakeholders on Ghana’s economy, we are convinced that the whole process needs to be suspended until broader consultations have been made.
As an advocacy group that speaks for the vulnerable in the society, the Council has examined the concerns of the Individual Bond Holders Association of Ghana (1BHAG), the Pensioner Bondholders Forum, our church members and the general public and have identified lapses in the debt restructuring programme, a major one being lack of consultation with affected individuals and institutions.
With the current economic hardships in the country and the agitations among the general public, it is in the nation’s interest for the Finance Ministry to suspend the 31St January deadline given to individuals to sign on to the program and rather propose a road map for dialogue to make the process participatory such that the outcome would be acceptable to all.
The Council believes that thorough engagements with stakeholders would help the government to appreciate the concerns of the Ghanaian people and put measures in place to address some of the challenges of the program.
The CCG also wants to encourage the media to be diligent with reportage on the debt restructuring program and ensure that they speak to professionals on the matter to avoid false information that would further heighten the already situation of fear and panic in the country.
The leadership of the Christian Council of Ghana will continue to pray for the managers of our economy, especially the finance minister, for God’s wisdom and direction in this matter, and we urge all churches to do same.
We strongly believe that God will see us through this difficult situation. Let us keep our hopes alive.
God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.
TOGETHER WE SOW AND REAP