Minister for Finance Ken Ofori-Atta is scheduled to appear before Parliament on February 16, 2023, to brief the legislature on the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
This followed a directive by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin to the Business Committee of the House to summon the Finance Minister to make a policy brief on the programme.
The Speaker gave the directive due to the ongoing picketing at the Finance Ministry by pensioner bondholders who are demanding total exemption from the programme.
Presenting the Business Statement on Friday for the ensuing week, Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, said it was necessary for the Minister to appear before Parliament to provide answers to questions raised by constituents of members of the House.
According to him, the Business Committee met on Thursday and it was our proposal that the Minister for Finance should appear before Parliament to answer some questions from statements submitted by members.
“On the issue of the domestic exchange debt programme, pursuant to your directive, we engaged the Minister of Finance, and we had his assurance to be here on Thursday, February 16.”
The Deputy Majority Leader also expressed concern over lateness by government appointees to the House when summoned and admonished that punctuality should be a virtue to be upheld to ensure urgent resolutions of concerns of citizens.
“Considering the volume of work, especially questions that have so far been filed and the need to attend to all of these so as to enable members to give the needed feedback to their constituents, we urge all Ministers to ensure punctuality and ensure that they get their responses through to members on time”, Mr. Afenyo-Markin added.
