Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has classified as baseless the picketing of the pensioners demanding an exemption from the ongoing Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
He noted that he sees no reason why the pensioners will continue picketing at the finance ministry after the government concluded to honour its obligations to nonparticipating bondholders including retirees.
Pensioners bondholders have been picketing the Finance Ministry to protest the inclusion of pension funds in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme for days. They are demanding a total exemption of their investments from the DDEP.
Mr. Ofori Atta addressing the pensioners on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, indicated that the picketing is unnecessary.
“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,” he said.
“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 intimated.
