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In response to the news of the exemption from the government’s domestic debt exchange program, members of the Pensioner Bondholders Forum have expressed happiness.
“I’m happy this is finally over and there will be nobody at the Ministry from tomorrow,” After the Minister’s announcement in parliament on Thursday, Dr. Adu Anane Antwi, the convener of the Pensioner Bondholders Forum, spoke with media.
All retirees who opted out of the domestic debt exchange after the deadline were excluded from the scheme, according to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Mr. Ofori-Atta stated in a speech to the legislature regarding the status of the domestic debt exchange program that pensioners shouldn’t be concerned since all of their coupons and principal will be honored when maturity is due.
“Mr Speaker, Government remains committed to the well-being and dignity of our Senior Citizens and Pensioners. Indeed, it has personally caused me great distress as a number of them have picketed at the premises of the Ministry of Finance since Monday, 6th February 2023. As I have already indicated in my Press Release dated 14th February 2023, Government will honour their coupon payments and maturing principals, like all Government bonds, in line with Government’s Fiscal commitments.
“Mr Speaker, in seeking to understand the concerns of our Senior Citizens, I have met with them on three occasions. The most recent was yesterday 15th February 2022, where I explained the terms of the new bonds.
“Mr Speaker, I subsequently wrote to their Convener, letting him know that all pensioners who did not participate in the exchange are exempted and therefore there will be no need for our Senior Citizens to picket at the Finance Ministry. Mr Speaker, I would like to thank all those who helped in those discussions.”
The gang has been camped out at the Finance Ministry for the previous three days in preparation for an hourly picketing practice.
Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo and other prominent figures participated in the protest, which demanded complete exemption from the government’s finished DDEP.
However, the administration has thanked Ghanaians for their support of the initiative.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
