Anne Benson, 49, a market vendor in Monrovia, Liberia, one of the countries impacted both by the Ebola outbreak and by massive IMF and World Bank debt. (Photo: Morgana Wingard/ UNDP/flickr/cc)
Nov 19, 2014
An alliance of African mayors is demanding that the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank cancel debts owed by West African nations that are in the grips of an Ebola crisis.
The call was issued this week in a Communique entitled "The Accra Accord on Ebola," which emerged from a three-day conference of Global Alliance of Mayors and Leaders from Africa and of African Descent, according toGhana Web. The gathering took place in Accra, Ghana and brought together participants from over 80 countries.
Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia--which are at the center of the Ebola crisis--together owe approximately $370 million to the IMF, according to Jubilee USA. Of this, $55 million is due in two years or less. Meanwhile, World Bank numbers from 2012 find that Guinea pays approximately $45 million more per year on debt than on public health.
Meanwhile, these loans have been given on the condition that these countries impose austere domestic programs, including cuts to public health spending.
The network Jubilee USA has been calling for debt relief of Ebola stricken countries, and earlier this month, had some success in pressing U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to take up their cause to the G20 meetings.
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Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
An alliance of African mayors is demanding that the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank cancel debts owed by West African nations that are in the grips of an Ebola crisis.
The call was issued this week in a Communique entitled "The Accra Accord on Ebola," which emerged from a three-day conference of Global Alliance of Mayors and Leaders from Africa and of African Descent, according toGhana Web. The gathering took place in Accra, Ghana and brought together participants from over 80 countries.
Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia--which are at the center of the Ebola crisis--together owe approximately $370 million to the IMF, according to Jubilee USA. Of this, $55 million is due in two years or less. Meanwhile, World Bank numbers from 2012 find that Guinea pays approximately $45 million more per year on debt than on public health.
Meanwhile, these loans have been given on the condition that these countries impose austere domestic programs, including cuts to public health spending.
The network Jubilee USA has been calling for debt relief of Ebola stricken countries, and earlier this month, had some success in pressing U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to take up their cause to the G20 meetings.
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
An alliance of African mayors is demanding that the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank cancel debts owed by West African nations that are in the grips of an Ebola crisis.
The call was issued this week in a Communique entitled "The Accra Accord on Ebola," which emerged from a three-day conference of Global Alliance of Mayors and Leaders from Africa and of African Descent, according toGhana Web. The gathering took place in Accra, Ghana and brought together participants from over 80 countries.
Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia--which are at the center of the Ebola crisis--together owe approximately $370 million to the IMF, according to Jubilee USA. Of this, $55 million is due in two years or less. Meanwhile, World Bank numbers from 2012 find that Guinea pays approximately $45 million more per year on debt than on public health.
Meanwhile, these loans have been given on the condition that these countries impose austere domestic programs, including cuts to public health spending.
The network Jubilee USA has been calling for debt relief of Ebola stricken countries, and earlier this month, had some success in pressing U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to take up their cause to the G20 meetings.
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