Ken Ofori-Atta, Finance Minister, is scheduled to appear before Parliament on Thursday, February 16, 2023, to brief the house on the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange program.
This follows a directive from the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to the House Business Committee to summon the Finance Minister to give a policy brief on the program in light of the ongoing picketing at the Finance Ministry by pensioner bondholders seeking an exemption from the program.
In presenting the business statement for the coming week, Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said it was necessary for the Minister to appear before Parliament to answer questions raised by constituents of members of the House.
Since its announcement, the program has faced stiff opposition from various groups and individuals.
The Ministry of Finance, on the other hand, claims to have received a significant response for participation.
Meanwhile, members of the Pensioner Bondholders Association, seeking an exemption, have stated that they will be present in Parliament to witness the proceedings.
“We had information that Parliament was trying to get the minister to Parliament. We have also heard that the meeting was scheduled for Thursday. Because we are not going to converge on the day, we will go to Parliament to see what is happening there,” the Convenor for the Pensioner Bondholders, Dr. Adu Anane Antwi said.
Additionally, former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo who was spotted picketing the Finance Ministry along with aggrieved pensioners has described the Debt exchange programme as wicked, disrespectful, and unlawful.
“I’m seeing it purely from a legal point of view, their contractual rights being threatened. Then I have to say something. I have to join them in solidarity. Their pain is my pain because I have retired sisters, friends, and so on and so forth,” she said on Friday.
