The convener for the pensioners bondholder’s forum Dr. Adu Anane Antwi shares his excitement as they finally receive a total exemption from the Domestic Debt Exchange Program.
Pensioners bondholders for the past 8 days have been picketing the ministry of finance for a total exemption on the DDEP. They stormed parliament today for the hearing of the finance minister’s update of the DDEP requesting for total exemption and not ready to leave till they have it.
Today, February 16, 2023, while addressing the press, finance minister Ken Ofori Atta finally gave them a total exemption of their bonds from the DDEP.
Speaking to the media after the finance minister’s declaration, the convener of the pensioners forum Dr. Anane said he was excited his labor was not in vain.
“No more picketing! Yesterday I told the minister that for 5 weeks I haven’t had even four hours of sleep. Please use the word "exempt" so that we can go and rest. I am getting weak, and I have to be resting. So, I am happy this is finally over and there will be nobody at the ministry from tomorrow on. That is all that we have been fighting for. We are happy now all is over. We thank God and we thank all the press people for the wonderful support you have given to our calls. I am happy everyone has gotten something better, the banks have gotten something better, individuals have gotten something better; even pensioners who could not understand or did not hear, or were confused have gotten something better. This is to show the government that next time when you are doing policies, don’t let policy come to make the elderly suffer. If they can’t help them, let them be there”, he explained.
