By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
As global debt challenges intensify for developing countries, Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to championing debt reform on the world stage, following a strategic engagement with the Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFC).
The interaction, led by GITFC Acting CEO Mr. Selassie Kofi Ackom, was part of preparations for the 9th Annual Global Debt Initiative (GDI) Conference, scheduled for 27th–28th November 2025 at Palms By Eagles, Airport City.
Rather than a routine courtesy call, the meeting underscored the Speaker’s expanding role as a continental advocate for a fairer global financial system—a role GITFC believes will significantly shape the upcoming conference.
Speaker Bagbin noted that developing countries are increasingly burdened by unsustainable debt and shrinking fiscal space, arguing that African nations must urgently assert themselves in the global economic dialogue.
He observed that trade and finance remain Africa’s biggest structural constraints, and stressed that without coordinated international pressure for debt relief, developing economies will continue to struggle under harsh repayment obligations.
Bagbin’s position aligns with growing calls across the Global South for reforms in debt architecture, credit rating systems, and the terms of sovereign lending.
Mr. Selassie Kofi Ackom praised the Speaker’s deep understanding of debt dynamics on the continent, describing him as an important “thought leader” in the global push for fairer financial arrangements.
He noted that Bagbin’s contributions will enrich the 2025 GDI Conference, which is expected to convene international lenders, economists, policymakers, and private-sector actors to examine the roots of the debt crisis and propose pathways for recovery.
With Ghana currently navigating its own debt restructuring processes, the Speaker’s involvement signals the country’s intention to move from being merely “a case study” to becoming a key influencer of global debt discourse.
The 2025 GDI Conference is anticipated to be one of the most consequential editions yet, offering a platform for robust, solution-driven conversations on debt relief, economic justice, and global financial reform.
