A convener of the Pensioners Forum has expressed confidence in the leadership of Parliament to force the hands of the Finance Minister to categorically exempt them from the debt exchange programme.

Dr Adu Anane Antwi assured his colleagues that Parliament will assist in the fight for an exemption from the programme.

“Parliament will fight for what we are demanding,” he said.

He gave this assurance in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday.

This follows a meeting with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

Prior to the meeting with the Speaker, Dr Anane Antwi also met with Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to plead for an exemption.

He also noted that the pensioners met with the leadership of the Majority side on Wednesday to deliberate on the issue.

“Because the Minister is going to Parliament tomorrow, we felt we should brief the leadership of Parliament on the matter sufficiently,” he noted.

In a related development, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has promised to meet with President Akufo-Addo to deliberate on the exemption demand of members of the Pensioner Bondholders Forum.

The decision was arrived at in a crunch meeting between the Minister and the group on day 8 of their protest for exemption.

Dr Anane Antwi was hopeful that the meeting with President Akufo-Addo would result in their being exempted.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister is to appear before Parliament on Thursday to brief the House on the details and progress of the debt exchange programme.

However, Dr Anane Antwi says the pensioners will move to Parliament tomorrow as the Finance Minister briefs the House on the matter.