Senyo Hosi, the convener of the Individual Bondholders Forum, has urged holders of pensioner bonds to forgo joining the domestic debt exchange scheme rather than put themselves through the anxiety of picketing the Finance Ministry.

He believed that since the Finance Minister had provided the option of self-exemption, it would be better if bondholders took it.

He said, “I sometimes get lost as to what the pensioners are looking for. We are looking for a total exemption, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has categorically said we can self-exempt. So what exactly are we looking for again from the Finance Minister? You have the decision to choose, I think individuals and pensioners have the option to stay out or not. If the deal doesn’t work for you, exempt, if it does fine. I don’t think picketing, shouting, and screaming will solve that problem. I will encourage all pensioners to self-exempt, there’s no need to scream, self-exempt now.”

The Pensioner Bondholders forum has been picketing the Finance Ministry since Monday, February 6, 2023, to demand a total exemption from the domestic debt exchange programme.

According to the group, it is unfair to be included in the programme.

Also, the lead convener of the group, Adu Anane Antwi, stated that voluntary participation is not the same as a total exemption.

According to him, this may cause problems for them in the future.

“In the future, the government can say that you did not take the restructuring. I already told you that I may face some challenges meeting the obligation so let us restructure and you refused. So if you go there, you become a part of it. If you decide not to take part, you already know,” he said.