The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, is set to convene Speakers and Presidents of Parliaments from across Africa at the 10th Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GiTFiC) Annual Meeting scheduled to take place in Accra in October 2026.
The decision follows a second consultative meeting between the Speaker and a delegation from the Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GiTFiC) on May 26, 2026, where discussions focused on the progress of the Global Debt Initiative and the role of African legislatures in advancing debt sustainability across the continent.
Held behind closed doors at the Speaker’s Office, the meeting reviewed action plans adopted during the first and second Global Debt Initiative meetings and explored ways to strengthen parliamentary involvement ahead of the initiative’s third gathering.
Bagbin, who also serves as President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL), reaffirmed his commitment to the initiative and highlighted the historical factors that have contributed to Africa’s debt challenges.
He noted that GiTFiC’s Agenda 2031 framework presents an opportunity to support Africa and the wider Global South through improved debt management strategies, sustainable borrowing practices, and advocacy for debt relief and cancellation measures.
According to participants, the Speaker stressed the importance of ensuring that African countries avoid a return to unsustainable debt levels while pursuing economic development and infrastructure growth.
As part of the outcomes of the meeting, Bagbin directed his office to fully support the agreed action plans and use the COSPAL platform to invite parliamentary leaders from across the continent to participate in the 10th GiTFiC Annual Meeting.
The October event will also host the Third Global Debt Initiative Meeting and the Second AfCFTA Tertiary Students’ Congress, bringing together lawmakers, policymakers, economists, academics, development partners, and youth leaders to discuss Africa’s economic future.
The GiTFiC delegation was led by former Managing Director of the National Investment Bank, Mr. Samuel Sarpong, and included members of the National Technical Working Committee on Agenda 2031, which oversees the implementation of the Global Debt Initiative and AfCFTA-related programmes.
Organisers say the conference will provide a high-level platform for African parliamentary leaders and global stakeholders to examine practical solutions to debt vulnerabilities affecting emerging and developing economies.
The discussions are expected to focus on debt sustainability, innovative financing mechanisms, economic resilience, and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with the aim of promoting long-term growth and prosperity across Africa and the Global South.
The 10th GiTFiC Annual Meeting is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of African parliamentary leaders on economic governance and debt management, reinforcing Ghana’s role as a leading hub for policy dialogue on trade, finance, and continental integration.