Catholic Bishops call for cancellation of Third World debts

Accra (Greater Accra) 12 July '99

The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has expressed concern about the debt burden of poor nations and unfair terms of trade and called for total cancellation of debts of Third World countries on humanitarian grounds.

It also called on rich nations to review trade terms in order to ease the sufferings of the peoples of poor countries who produce the bulk of the raw materials for industrial development.

"This gesture of debt cancellation, and the review of terms of trade, would be concrete gestures of solidarity of the international community with the poorer nations," it said.

The appeal is contained in a communiqué issued in Accra on Saturday on its Plenary Assembly, that took place in Tamale from July 5-9.

The communiqué said debt remission should afford Ghana an opportunity to make a fresh start in respect of good governance and judicious use of its national resources for the common good.

"We urge government that in line with its commitment to poverty alleviation, it should use the benefits of debt cancellation to enhance the quality of life of the urban and rural poor by providing basic amenities, especially educational and health facilities, throughout the country."

It said "emphasis should be placed on the needs of the youth and women to enable the largest number of people to escape the agony of self-perpetuating poverty."

The communiqué noted that the disparity between the rich and the poor is ever-increasing.

"The nation's quest for social justice, as embodied in our constitution, demands that the government act decisively and firmly to address the poverty situation to enable Ghanaians to live in dignity."

It said the Church would continue to make "a radical and preferred option for the poor" and assist the people in the fight against poverty, hunger, diseases and ignorance.

The communiqué expressed the hope that the peace in the Northern Region would be sustained.

It, however, appealed to traditional rulers, district assemblies and government to put in place a mechanism to study and recommend ways of addressing the issue of land in Northern Ghana.

"The present situation, which renders many ethnic groups homeless and landless in their own country, is not only unacceptable but remains a latent source of conflict.

The communiqué noted that this year is the 119th year of the birth of the Catholic Church in Ghana and said it will continue with its pastoral work.