A Vice Chairperson of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana has expressed dissatisfaction with government to include pensioners in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).

Clara Beeri Kasser-Tee said government should not take advantage of the vulnerable to seize rightful acquisition because they are voiceless.

She explained that government cannot do as it will to the pensioners by using their funds because it has the power to claim their properties.

“We just can’t throw our vulnerable under the bridge, these are people who are old, it's just similar to going for somebody’s property because you can. It’s because you have the power to do so".

Speaking on Newsfile Saturday, Mrs Kasser-Tee asserted that these are people that the government should be protecting in society rather than ill-treating them because they cannot fight for their rights.

“We should be protecting our vulnerable in society rather than taking advantage of them because we think they don’t have what it takes to fight”, she stressed.

Commenting on the recent picketing by the pensioners Friday, the Law lecturer commended the former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo for joining the pensioners in picketing the Finance Ministry.

She explained that every society is measured by how it treats its vulnerable.

“I would like to commend the former Chief Justice for using the powerful voice that she has for the greater public good and for a lot of people who may be voiceless.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/debt-exchange-is-wicked-i-have-to-say-something-sophia-akuffo-joins-pensioners-protest/

“So I highly commend her for joining those picketing and capturing saliently and very well-articulated with conviction the pain of the pensioners in this situation”, she said.

She also commended the pensioners for taking bold steps of using their democratic rights in the constitution to picket.

Sophia Akuffo told the press that it is unfair for government through the Finance Minister to subject her colleagues to such an ordeal.

She said her ample retirement benefits by virtue of her position do not prevent her from solidarising with others in a contrary predicament.

The former Chief Justice described the DDEP programme as wicked and unlawful.

“I find it wicked, I find it disrespectful, I find it unlawful, I find it totally wrong, period! Because you don’t solve your problems by sacrificing your aged. That is the last thing you should do,” she told JoyNews.

Meanwhile, the Pensioner Bondholders plan to continue picketing the Ministry on Monday, February 13, after what appears to be an unsatisfactory crunch meeting with the Finance Minister.