The former Chief Justice of Ghana, Sophia Akuffo, has voiced her anger over the government’s recent decision to include pensioner funds in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. On February 10, Sophia Akuffo joined a group of pensioners in a protest at the Finance Ministry and spoke to journalists about her opposition to the government’s proposal.
Inhumane, Wicked, and Disrespectful The former Chief Justice described the government’s decision as inhumane, sheer wickedness, and outright disrespectful. Sophia Akuffo believes that the government must come to the negotiating table with a “yesable” proposal and show humility if they wish to renegotiate the terms of the contract with pensioners.
Investment Contract Must be Respected Many pensioners have been saving for years and have put their confidence in government bonds as an investment. The former Chief Justice believes that it is unacceptable for the government to force pensioners to agree to changes in the repayment of their investment yields without fully accounting for the current economic crisis and explaining the usage of all loans taken.
Transparency and Accountability Needed Sophia Akuffo is calling on the government to be transparent and account for the current economic crisis in Ghana. She believes that the elderly should be respected and that the government must show responsibility by explaining what the loans were used for and how they plan to make things better. The former Chief Justice stated that she feels it is important to voice her concerns, now that she is no longer government employed and her “mouth has been ungagged.”
The former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has expressed her strong opposition to the government’s proposal to include pensioner funds in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. She believes that the government must show responsibility, transparency, and accountability and that the investment contract with pensioners must be respected. Sophia Akuffo has threatened to sue the government if they proceed with the proposal.
