Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo was spotted on Friday, February 10 at the Ministry of Finance, where some pensioners have been picketing in demand for their exemption from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).

The pensioners have been picketing at the Ministry since Monday, February 6 to be exempted from the Programme.

Deadline for voluntary subscribers to join the Programme is Friday after the Ministry gave another extension from Tuesday, February 7.

Already, government has reached agreements with banks, insurance companies and securities companies to join the Programme, which is meant to be part of the country’s debt restructuring exercise ahead of an extended credit facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Government had assured all active workers of exempting their pension funds from the Programme but is said to have included pensioners’ funds in its revised memorandum.

Most of the pensioners say the bonds with government is their only source of livelihood, having worked to save those monies.

Government’s seeming nonchalance to their demands forced them to begin an action, which sees them come to the Finance Ministry between 10:00am and 11:00am each day to press them home.

The former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo held a placard in solidarity with the senior citizens.

“We use our bond yields to pay our. . .rents, medical bills, electricity bills and water bills,” her placard reads.
Speaking to journalists, the former Chief Justice described as wicked and insensitive the decision by the Finance Ministry to include bonds of pensioners in the Programme.Source:By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh