North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says he would not have any problem should the government delay salaries of the political class so it pays members of the Pensioner Bondholders Forum their monies. 

The lawmaker said the pensioners depend on their investments to take care of their medical bills and other expenses as they are not in active service. 

Mr Ablakwa said the government must urgently find a way to pay them their monies to avoid any further problems for the old folks. 

Speaking on Metro TV on Friday, May 12, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee also advised the government to cut expenditure, including spending on the National Cathedral Secretariat, free fuel coupons and others to settle the monies of the pensioners. 

“I don’t mind if the government says it will delay our salaries, those of us in active politics now so the monies for these pensioners can be paid. I don’t mind at all. 

“The salaries of all of us MPs, Ministers and all. So there are so many things we can cut. The salaries of the political class be suspended while we look at that. 

“The fuel coupons, official travels, the cathedral secretariat. Why are we keeping that secretariat open and paying people salaries after all the scandals. You know this president does not believe in small things. He likes big things, big government and large life,” he said. 

Since Monday, the retirees have been gathering at the Ministry from 10am to 11am every day chanting patriotic songs in the hope that their presence will pile pressure on government to honour the about 19 coupons and 3 principals outstanding.

For most pensioners, the delay in payment does not only affect them but their dependents also.

An aggrieved member in a media interview narrated his frustration and called on the government to urgently pay them their monies. 

 “All we want is our monies to be paid. The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, promised to give us our money, but up till now we have not received anything. 

"We are monitoring everything because we worked hard, there’s no way any of our monies will go unpaid that we will not track. We are not asking for any social services, we are asking for our money. 

"Please convey to the Finance Minister that he must keep his word and pay us. We wouldn’t be here if he had kept his promise,” he said.