We’ll petition CHRAJ over interest on unpaid coupons-Pensioner Bondholders

The Pensioner Bondholders Forum says it will file a petition with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) regarding the government’s refusal to pay accrued interest on outstanding principal payments.

During a meeting between the Pensioner Bondholders Forum and the Ministry of Finance, the government declined the demand for interest on the four principals.

Convener for the forum, Dr Adu Anane Antwi, argued that if the principal amount remains unpaid, interest must be paid on it.

“We will need an arbiter, so we have suggested that we will submit the matter to CHRAJ for CHRAJ to tell us whether we have the right to do that or not. We will do an official letter to the government on the demand for the interest on the delayed principal, and then we know the response of the government, but the government must put it in writing,” he said.

Members of the pensioner bondholders have resumed picketing at the Ministry of Finance after the government failed to fulfill its promise of settling five outstanding coupons.

Last week, the Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei Asare pleaded with Pensioner Bondholders, to exercise patience as the government works to secure the necessary resources to settle their unpaid matured coupons.

According to her, the government is not intentionally neglecting the payment of outstanding coupons. Rather, the delay is caused by the unavailability of funds and the current economic crisis.