Ghanatodayonline.com News, Politics, Health, Education & More
Pensioner bondholders’ ongoing picketing for an exemption from the Domestic Debt Exchange Program has been deemed inappropriate by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
The government will uphold its duties to bondholders, even retirees who freely chose not to participate in the scheme, he claims, adding that the voluntary exercise has come to an end.
The group has been demonstrating outside the Finance Ministry for the last eight days, asking that the government not include them in the domestic debt swap.
The picketing is no longer necessary, according to the Finance Minister, who spoke to pensioners on February 15.
“Really, there is no reason for us to be sitting here because that assurance has been given on paper. I want to know what it is that you are afraid of or that you think will not happen. My issue is that now you have very little of the old bonds existing. This means that, in the event of a crisis, your ability to trade your papers is diminished. But that is the choice you made,” Mr Ofori-Atta said.
While Mr. Ofori-Atta was speaking to the protesting pensioner bondholders, mayhem broke out.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the organizer of the pressure group #FixTheCountry, who had come to support the picketers who were accusing the Minister of being unreliable, stopped his conversation.
The Minister became enraged by this interruption, and his security then escorted him out.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
