Convener of Individual Bondholders Forum, Michael Harry Yamson is demanding that elected and appointed government officials who fall under Article 71 of Ghana’s Constitution should exempt themselves from any form of ex-gratia.
The government after nearly two months of struggle completed the domestic debt exchange programme with many bondholders having to sacrifice their investments.
But according to Harry Yamson, ex-gratia is supposed to be a reward for outstanding performances which he deems hasn’t been the case due to the country’s economic woes.
Speaking to Francis Abban on the State of Affairs show on GHOne TV, Mr Yamson demanded that government officials exempt themselves from taking ex-gratia because they do not deserve it.
“Ask yourself that at the end of the process, I’ve heard that at the end of all these two years will come and our leaders will arrogate to themselves something called ex-gratia. I always remember my little Latin, it is gratitude for outstanding performance.
“But this DDEP is got to make us ask ourselves fundamental questions. What is outstanding performance when you are a national leader. On what basis do we reward you for outstanding performance. The outstanding performance on the table right now, that your currency has lost at least 50% of its value and your investments, your pensions have lost at least 50% of its value, for some people it will be 45%.
“I tell you with same vehemence that we said exempt, we must demand of our political leaders, exempt yourself from ex-gratia. They don’t deserve it, otherwise we are a weird, strange people.” he emphasized.
