In a rejoinder by the Pensioners Bondholders Forum signed by the convener Dr. Adu A. Antwi, the forum debunked the statements made by the minister of finance, Ken Ofori-Atta titled ‘Government Engages With Leadership Of Coalition of Individual Bondholders Groups And The Pensioners Bondholders Forum’.
According to the convener, they are very much surprised and worried to note the misleading statement contained in paragraph 2 of the Ministry’s Press Release of 14th April, 2023.
“Our attention has been drawn to a Press Release of 14th April 2023 from the Ministry of Finance on a meeting held with leadership of Coalition of Individual Bondholders groups and the Pensioners Bondholders Forum on 14th April 2023.
“Paragraph 2 of the Press Release contains a statement to the effect that the meeting agreed that the Joint Technical Committee constituted on 18th January, 2023 reconvenes and agrees on a pathway, towards the settlement of the outstanding debt obligations by 28th April, 2023. We wish to state that no such agreement contained in paragraph 2 of the Ministry’s Press Release was reached.”
Dr. Adu A. Antwi
The statement explained that at the meeting, the Ministry proposed that the Joint Technical Committee constituted on 18th January, 2023 be given a period of four (4) weeks to work and agree on a pathway, towards the settlement of the outstanding debt obligations by the Government. It therefore, said, “The proposal from the Ministry was not accepted”.
Pensioners Going Through A Lot of Pains
The Convener of the Forum stated that some pensioners are going through a lot of pains and financial hardships as a result of the delayed payments and therefore want the payments to be made by 21st April 2023, as demanded in the Forum’s letter of 30th March, 2023 to the Minister.
The Convener however promised that he will try and convince members of the Forum to grant the Ministry a one (1) week extension of the 21st April, 2023 deadline for the payment of the Government’s outstanding debts obligations. The Convener advised that the Ministry waits to receive a confirmation from him on the one (1) week extension after he has consulted with members of the Forum.
The Convener requested that upon the receipt of a confirmation from him, the Ministry should respond to the Forum’s letter of 30th March, 2023 and indicate that after further engagement with the Forum, the Ministry has agreed to pay the outstanding coupons and principals by 28th April, 2023.
“We wish to state that we have granted the Ministry a one (1) week extension to the 21 April 2023 deadline in our letter of 30th March, 2023 for the payment of all outstanding coupons and principals, bringing the deadline now to 28th April, 2023.”
Dr. Adu A. Antwi
The statement concluded saying “We wish to state finally that if the payments of all outstanding coupons and principals are not made by 28th April 2023, we shall be left with no other option than to resume our picketing at the premises of the Ministry to further press home our demand for the payment of all coupons and principals in arrears, and an end to payment delays”.
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