We are grateful – Pensioner bondholders react to DDEP exemption

Pensioner bondholders have reacted to the announcement by the Finance Minister that they have been exempted from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. This follows the minister’s briefing of Parliament on Thursday, February 16.

After several days of picketing at the Finance Ministry over the issue, the convenor of Pensioner Bondholders Forum, the group that protested their inclusion in the programme said the decision is the right one.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta during his briefing of Parliament made known that the government had not included the persons who did not want to be part of the programme.

“Mr Speaker, in seeking to understand the concerns of our Senior Citizens, I have met with them on three occasions. The most recent was 15th February 2022, where I explained the terms of the new bonds. 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,” Ken Ofori-Atta.

Speaking to Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, February 16, Dr Adu Anane Antwi said, “We thank everybody, and we are happy that the government has announced what we want to hear. This is a better exemption than self-exemption. There is that clarity now. Nothing is going to affect us because no one is going to suffer a haircut”.