By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Members of a group calling themselves Locked-Up Investment Holders Forum have taken to the streets for the eleventh time, to demand payment of their locked-up funds.
The group, comprising customers of defunct financial institutions, including the likes; of NDK Financial Services, expressed disappointment at the Finance Minister’s reluctance to provide assurances for the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to pay funds locked up in defunct finance houses.
According to them, the government has taken no action despite petitioning the Finance Ministry, which they say amounts to total neglect, hence their resumption of the street protests.
The Convenor of the forum, Dr. Adu Anane Antwi, has explained that the lack of engagement with the Finance Ministry left them no choice but to demonstrate.
They are urging the government to utilise the unallocated GH¢200 million from the GH¢4 billion allocated to address challenges in the financial sector, including GH¢2.3 billion for NIB’s recapitalisation, to pay locked-up investment.
This, according to them, would enable the BoG to revoke licences and pay investors.
Additionally, they appealed for a reduction in the GH¢2.3 billion allocated to NIB, citing the country’s financial challenges and the need to prioritise vulnerable pensioners and sick depositors.
The forum again emphasised the need for the government to restore investor confidence in the financial market and ensure stability.
The group is thus demanding financial assurance from the government to enable the BoG to revoke the licences of these defunct finance houses.