Let’s Share The Burden Together- Pensioners Association

Some irate Pensioners Association of Ghana has called on the government to involve every Ghanaian to feel part of the financial difficulty facing the country today. Speaking to the media at the Finance Ministry, one of the pensioners who spoke on anonymity intimated that, they want Total Exemption from the whole debt restructuring exercise by the government with the IMF . According to her, they are not the ones to suffer for the country’s financial woes incurred by the current government. She bemoaned the state of pensioners that is beset with myriad of challenges and they should not be made to suffer double agony. “Look we pay huge medical bills, rent,light,water, communication, transport , food and others. Imagine someone like me over 75 years ridden with ailments and other challenges .The government should rather cushion and sympathise or empathise with us instead of taking our small monies from our investments ,” she fumed. The embittered lady further stated that there are some clauses in the new arrangements that cannot be left unchecked as they would go against them. She stressed that they have killed themselves to serve this country and this shouldn’t be their reward . According to her they are not the cause of this country’s economic predicament and their monies should not be used for cleaning the mess . “At least all Ghanaians must be made to share the burden and not heap the whole problem on us. If the government wants us to participate then they must bring equity ; he the finance minister what is he bringing on board ” ? she posed the question. The lady who could hardly walk well asked the financial minister if he would like to face the same fate if he retires in future . She painted a picture of her colleagues whose children cannot help them as well don’t have their own houses to stay in . This happened when a group of pensioners singing patriotic songs staged a sit down demonstration at the finance Ministry today in Accra. Their beef is to oppose the DDEP program ongoing between the government and the IMF that involves pension funds of these aggrieved pensioners .