When several retirees were picketing outside the Ministry of Finance on Friday, February 10, asking to be excused from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo was nearby (DDEP).

Since Monday, February 6, the pensioners have been picketing outside the Ministry in an effort to be excused from the programme.

The Ministry extended the deadline from Tuesday, February 7 to Friday for voluntary subscribers to join the programme.

In advance of an extended credit facility from the International Monetary Fund, the government has already reached agreements with banks, insurance companies, and securities firms for their participation in the Programme. This program is intended to be part of the country's debt restructuring exercise (IMF).

Government had assured all active workers of exempting their pension funds from the Programme but is said to have included pensioners’ funds in its revised memorandum.

Most of the pensioners say the bonds with government is their only source of livelihood, having worked to save those monies.

Government’s seeming nonchalance to their demands forced them to begin an action, which sees them come to the Finance Ministry between 10:00am and 11:00am each day to press them home.

The former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo held a placard in solidarity with the senior citizens.

“We use our bond yields to pay our. . .rents, medical bills, electricity bills and water bills,” her placard reads.

Speaking to journalists, the former Chief Justice described as wicked and insensitive the decision by the Finance Ministry to include bonds of pensioners in the Programme.