Pensioners Bondholders Forum has rejected the latest bond offer to them by the Government of Ghana.
The government moved from its initial zero offer before yesterday’s deadline and extended the deadline to February 7 with 5 years maturity instead of 15 years and a 10 percent coupon rate.
For all retirees and those retiring that year, they will be offered an instrument maximum of 5 years instead of 15 years and a 15 percent coupon rate.
The convener of the Pensioner’s Bondholders Forum, Dr. Adu Antwi in an interview acknowledging the improvement in the government offer said their quest is for total exemption.
He said, the government’s latest offer will reduce the dividend on their bonds and this will have dire consequences on the financial and health situations of pensioners.
“It is a much more improved condition, I must say but that is not what pensioners are looking for. we are looking for a total exemption not to be pushed into this program.
For retirees whatever investment they are holding now, in most cases is the only source of income for their upkeep.
Most of the people who have worked in the informal sector and have retired do not have any SSNIT pension, their only source of income is what they have saved through their love and have invested in government bonds which we have preached to them over and over again that if you are old your investment should be at a safer place which is government bond.
So we are saying leave the pensioners, let them receive whatever they are receiving until their maturity they take their money,” Dr. Adu Antwi said.
