Finance Minister to appear before Parliament on February 16 over DDEP
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is expected to appear before Parliament on Thursday February 16, 2023, to brief the house on the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange programme.
This follows a directive by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin to the Business Committee of the House to summon the Finance Minister to give a policy brief on the programme due to the ongoing picketing at the Finance Ministry by pensioner bondholders for an exemption from the programme.
Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin presenting the business statement of Parliament for the ensuing week, said it was necessary for the Minister to appear before Parliament to provide answers to questions raised by constituents of members of the House.
The programme has faced stiff opposition from groups and individuals since its announcement.
The Ministry of Finance however says it has received a considerable response for participation.
The former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo on Friday, February 10, criticised the government for the current economic situation.
According to her, the government has failed to be transparent to Ghanaians regarding the current predicament.
She made this known when she joined the Pensioner Bondholders Forum to picket the Finance Ministry over the inclusion of their investments in the Debt Exchange Programme.
The stateswoman said the move is unacceptable and cannot be forced on investors.
“Why are we in the mess? Nobody has fully explained to us, yes we took debt, what was it used for? And where is the accountability? Exactly what was it used for?
“You are not telling us about how you are going to be able to make things better but just that ‘help me and I help you’, no, you help yourself first, let me see you doing something serious because we have seen these sorts of things too many times.
“I am over 70 years now, I am no longer government employee, my mouth has been ungagged, and I am talking, and I am saying that we have failed, and it is important that the elderly should be respected.”