Ing. Francis Addai-Nimoh, flagbearer candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged the government, specifically the Finance Ministry, to explain in detail to pensioner bondholders the consequences of their request if their funds are exempted from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
He is of the belief that this would help solve the situation and prevent the “old men and women” from going to the Finance Ministry to picket.
The pensioners have been asking the government to totally exempt them from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
Since Last Monday, the retirees have been picketing at the Ministry to make their demands known to the government.
According to them, they will not stop until they hear something positive from the government.
On the fifth day, former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, who joined them to picket, was seen sitting at the ministry with a placard with the inscription, “We use our bond yields to pay our rents, medical bills, electricity bills, and water bills.”
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Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ama Gyenfa Ofosu Darkwa, Ing. Francis Addai-Nimoh said the Finance Ministry must be very transparent with the DDEP in its quest to turn things around with the Programme.
“The economic situation can change; that is why the Finance Ministry has to be very transparent.” The pensioners want to be exempt; if you want them to be included, you have to show them all the figures and also all the scenarios. This is the sum of your money; this is your number; if we exempt yours, this will be the effect; when you part with your 10 percent, 20 percent, or 50 percent, this will be the outcome. If we exempt you, maybe the effects will be insignificant, so they have to put all the scenarios out there. The banks, insurance companies, and all that—the scenarios must be put out there, and it will help. “Because there is an issue, it is not now that we are going to look for who caused it; when we get the solution, solve the problem, then we come home, and it will help,” he said.
Ing. Francis Addai-Nimoh said that for the country’s economy to get better, the government needs to spend less, especially on trips abroad.
He suggested to the President and the Chief of Staff that they issue a directive to everyone in the public that, apart from the President and his Executive Secretary and a few from the Executive and the Judiciary, anyone who wants to travel should fly in economy class.
“If the government ensures to cut down on its expansion and calls on the people to help, they will do so,” he said.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
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