Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has reaffirmed his party’s commitment to oppose the introduction of the E-Levy
To them, the levy will cause hardship to the majority of Ghanaians and as such, they will reject the levy in its entirety.
The over 100 Ghana cedis of the proposed 1.75% levy on electronic transactions has been a key major point of disagreement between the Minority and the Majority in parliament.
The minority is of the strong view that the E-Levy should be rejected as they believe it will not be significant in Ghana’s effort to grow the digital economy. The majority however maintains that it should be passed with specific concessions or revisions.
On the floor of parliament yesterday, Mr. Iddrisu indicated that “we believe that the E-Levy is punitive, it will undermine our quest to grow a digital economy in seeking to task transactions”
On Monday, December 6, 2021, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta at a news conference stated that he has written to the Speaker outlining the amendments that meet the minority and public concerns.
After the Minority insisted that the Minister’s Letter be brought before the House, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu admitted that it addressed the majority of their concerns.
However, Mr. Iddrisu said the E-Levy in its existing shape cannot be accepted by the minority in parliament.
According to him, the minority is guided by the public votes and believes that monies recoverable from the auditor general report can as well compensate for the imposition of an E-Levy.
“We stand opposed and at every level that E-Levy is introduced, we will still stand united to oppose it because it will inflict hardships on the core poor of the Ghanaian people and we stand opposed to it that you don’t task capital, you task income and revenue” He emphasized.
In a related development, Mr Iddrisu says he has issued a notice that he intends to challenge the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, on his behaviour and judgement on a motion of rescission he proposed on Wednesday, which was
However, The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin was of the view that the First Deputy Speaker did not admit Mr Iddrisu’s Motion for Rescission.
According to him, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu raised a preliminary objection to the Motion. However, irrespective of the pendency of that preliminary objection, the First Deputy Speaker allowed the Motion to be seconded and debated and subsequently ruled on the preliminary objection.
Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
