The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has asked the House Business Committee to call Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to provide an update on the government’s domestic debt exchange program.
This follows the Minority’s request for policy specifics on the program in response to pensioners’ picketing at the Finance Ministry to demand exemption from the exercise.
Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, stated that members are ready to support the government.
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“Parliament is ever prepared to assist government to get out of this quagmire. So, what I can say now is that, parliament has spoken and that is the end of it. The Minister must be scheduled by the business committee as early as possible because this is an urgent matter because the pensioners are picketing at the Ministry. We need to do this as quickly as possible. Business Committee should schedule the Minister to appear before the house for a brief on the state of affairs.”
Abena Osei Asare, Deputy Finance Minister, assured MPs that they will be kept up to date on the present situation.
Despite strong opposition, the deadline for people and institutions to sign up for the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme expired on Tuesday.
The agreement achieved thus far, according to Abena Osei Asare, will be presented to the House.
“We have mentioned that once Parliament comes through, we will come and brief the house on the steps we have taken so far. Parliament was on recess and it has just resumed. So we shouldn’t jump the gun. A little patience so we do not muddy the waters out there.”
The Pensioners Bondholders Forum will picket at the Finance Ministry for the third time this week unless the government excludes them from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
The agitated bondholders picketed on Monday and Tuesday and have threatened to picket again today unless the government listens.
Pensioners are calling for a complete exemption from the domestic debt exchange program.
However, the Finance Minister cautions that individual and pensioner bondholders’ failure to participate in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme will delay the government’s attempts to revive the economy.
SOURCE: CITINEWS
