Pensioner bondholders will resume to picket outside the Finance Ministry for unpaid coupons.

The Pensioners Bondholders exempted from the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) will today, Friday, April 28, resume its picketing at the premises of the Ministry of Finance. 

The resumption of their action is due to the government’s failure to pay all outstanding coupons and principals of bond investments. 

In a statement signed by its Convener, Dr. Adu Anane Antwi, on Friday, April 24, it expressed disappointment about the government’s inconsistency regarding assurances to pay all pensioners their outstanding coupons and principals of bond investments.

“We wish to state finally that if the payments of all outstanding coupons and principals are not made by April 28, 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,” excerpts of the release said. 

The Finance Ministry in a statement released on the February 27, promised to honor coupon rates on matured bondholders who did not sign up for the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).

The statement said “in fulfillment of the assurance given by Government to bondholders who did not tender, the Ministry is taking administrative steps to ensure that payments of coupons and principals of the old bonds resume by 13th March, 2023.”

Days after the assurance by government, some bondholders say they are yet to receive payment of coupons and principals on their investments.

This is what has compelled the members of the  Pensioners Bondholders Forum to resume their picketing at the Finance Ministry.