African workers appreciate your message, which was made during your New Year’s mass. Several African economies are reeling from huge debt-servicing effects, which are forcing governments to pile up austerity measures and eroding social protection provisions’ financing abilities. Consequently, most African indebted countries are unable to tackle poverty, hunger, and inequality challenges ravaging the people.

As we wholeheartedly and appreciatively welcome His Holiness’ call for debt cancellation, we urge you to remain seized with the issue until tangible results are recorded. We also call on His Holiness to urge governments of poor economies, including those in Africa, to embrace prudent, transparent, and accountable management of public resources.

On our part, we remain steadfast in our push for improved and sustained welfare and well-being of our people and their communities. In this quest, we shall continue to cultivate dependable and genuine allies and remain relentless in the mobilization of our people to take their destinies into their hands and thrive.

Yours faithfully,
Akhator Joel Odigie
General Secretary, ITUC-Africa

CC:
– General Affairs Office
– Holy See Press Office
– Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM)
– Conférence Episcopale du Togo