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Joining other pensioners at the Finance Ministry to picket for exemption from the DDEP is an exhibition of “emotional outburst” Gabby Otchere-Darko, a staunch member of the NPP, is “struggling to get” from Sophia Akuffo.

The former Chief Justice, a pensioner and bondholder, participated in a protest at the Finance Ministry to seek exclusion from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) Friday.

The DDEP is an IMF brainchild for Ghana government to restructure its debt by substituting existing bonds with new ones for extended matured periods.

READ ALSO: DDEP: She’s bigger than that’ – Gabby Otchere-Darko takes on Sophia Akuffo for picketing at Finance Ministry

The move, even though ‘voluntary’, as government presents it, has clarity deficiency making stakeholders resist it.

After declining from using pensions funds as part of the policy over threatened unrest from Organised Labour, individual bondholders who are pensioners are fighting for exemption, making them picket the Ministry of Finance from Monday to Friday.

After joining the protest Friday, Gabby Otchere-Darko thinks the former head of Ghana’s Judiciary is only being emotional about the issue.

“Why picket over something you don’t like (the improved offer) when you have the right not to sign up? Sorry, but I struggle to get her emotional outburst over exemption! I hope she won’t volunteer to picket tomorrow and on the same issues when the time to sign up has expired.

“I was among those who pleaded for the exemption of pensioners. But, the Govt had to balance all that with the need to protect the economy for the 33m population and settled on the 15% yield maturing in 5yrs instead of 15, and that the individual was FREE not to participate,” a tweet he made Sunday, February 12, 2023, contained.

His comments come after a deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah, had made similar utterances asking individual bondholders to discuss the DDEP devoid of emotions.

READ ALSO: Domestic Debt Exchange: John Kumah tells individual bondholders not to argue with emotions

READ ALSO: DDEP: I don’t want to believe there are conmen in government’ – Carbonu slams gov’t over u-turn on pensions funds

Mr. Kumah’s comments followed statements made by Angel Carbonu, President of NAGRAT and Senyo Hosi, an individual bondholder over clandestine move by the government to touch the pensions funds despite assuring the labour unions of exemption.

Whilst Senyo Hosi thought the government was being dishonest with stakeholders, Mr. Carbonu was asking if there were conmen in the Akufo-Addo government.

By Felix Anim-Appau|Onuaonline.com