The Pensioner Bondholders Forum has served notice of resuming picketing at the Ministry of Finance if all outstanding coupons and principals are not paid by Friday, April 28.
They said the resumption of their action will “further press home our demand for the payment of all coupons and principals in arrears, and an end to payment delays”.
Pensioners including a former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, in February began a mass action against the Finance Ministry for initially including their bonds in the Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP).
Their days of picketing resulted in their exemption from the Programme, making it voluntary for them.
However, those who opted out of the DDEP have complained of delays in the payment of their coupons and principals.
Agreed dates of payment have been missed while some have remained outstanding.
The latest date of Friday, April 21 has stirred controversy after the Convener of the Forum, Dr Adu Antwi, opted to convince members for a one-week extension.
But he said after meeting the members and reporting back to the Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei Asare, via a text message, a press release by the Ministry seems to have put out “misleading” facts.
“After the meeting, the Convener sent this text message at 4:25pm to the Deputy Minister through two (2) of the Ministry’s staff who were involved in facilitating the meeting: “This is to confirm the one week extension I proposed at the meeting, to the 21st April 2023 deadline demanded by the Pensioner Bondholders Forum for the payment of outstanding coupons and principals. Please convey the confirmation to the Deputy Minister. Thanks. Dr Adu A Antwi”.
“We are therefore very much surprised and worried to note the misleading statement contained in paragraph 2 of the Ministry’s Press Release of 14th April, 2023.”
It said with the April 28 extension agreed, pensioner bondholders will have no option than to resume picketing at the Ministry if all payment is not made after then.
