Take Action: Tell the IMF to Act on Liberia Debt
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We often use our voices to tell our elected officials to support anti-global poverty legislation that is months or even years in the making. But today is different. Today we can take action on a critical international situation ripped from the headlines.
As the Financial Times reports:
The International Monetary Fund faced harsh criticism on Thursday for failing to meet its commitment to write off $800m in debt owed by Liberia, as Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the country’s leader, met US president George W. Bush in Washington.
And from the BBC:
Forgiveness of the old debt would allow the IMF to issue new development loans.
Correspondents say it is widely agreed that Liberia’s arrears should be paid off, but there is still some wrangling about the financial details.
This broken promise of debt relief threatens the future of Liberia, a country struggling to make democracy work after a bloody civil war, and lift its people out of poverty.
Today, Liberia is on the right path. In 2006, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf became the first African woman to be elected a head of state. She is an expert on development—she worked for the World Bank and UN Development Program—and on Liberia’s recent troubled history, having been jailed twice and driven into exile for opposing a repressive government.
It is an outrage that 18 months have passed since the IMF committed to writing off Liberia’s debt. Send a message to the IMF and let them know that as a citizen of the fund’s largest donor country—you know that the time for action is now.
-Josh Peck, ONE.org
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The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with frequent contributions from volunteers, members and partner organizations.
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October 24, 2007 at 3:59 am
I don’t agree with this campaign and its goals.
It’s great if Liberia took the right path but still it’s just one year. And the debt is $800 million. What if IMF writes it off and army come to power next year?
I think that much better approach is to keep the debt and write off only amounts that government provably invested into schools, medical treatment etc.
This can assure that if something goes wrong you still can do something about it.
October 24, 2007 at 7:40 am
I had the privilege of hearing President Sirleaf speak on her recent trip to DC. She spoke passionately about the challenges facing her country. She is doing her part to meet the standards set by the IMF. The world has been clamoring for an African leader committed to transparency and reform. Now that we have one, are we going to just stand by and watch her fail?! The only way to hold on to the precarious stability in Liberia is for her administration to begin to show results on the ground. President Sirleaf spoke about her country’s small window of opportunity for development projects during the dry season and about how last year’s season was squandered due to bureaucratic red tape. She is pleading with the world not to let it happen again this year!
October 24, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I truly believe that the only way to break the viscious cycle of debt in the poorest of the developing nations is to apply grants, not loans, AFTER debt has been forgiven. Forgiving the debt is only the first step…I think Liberia would meet the criteria whereby grants could potentially improve matters, albeit conditionally. Proper spending of these grants leading to the promise of other grants/low-interest loans in the future could create a positive cycle as opposed to the oppressive cycle of insurmountable debt.
November 20, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Great news. We can make a difference by juniting our voices.
November 23, 2007 at 10:03 am
All the Glory and Honor is given to the only one who deserve it… God, with HIm nothing is possible.
God bless you all, and I’m extremely happy, when I can see how God work through our hearts….
November 26, 2007 at 7:16 am
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