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Ghanaian Politics

Minority had no excuse to prevent passage of E-levy – Ras Mubarak

By : cd on 30 Mar 2022, 10:34     |     Source: myjoyonline

Ras Mubarak

A former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, has accused the leadership of the Minority of failing to deploy its parliamentary prowess to prevent the passage of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) bill.

The legislator in a Facebook post on Tuesday said the Minority had no excuse to galvanize its members into the Chamber to vote on the passage of the levy particularly when the Majority managed to bring in a seriously ill Ahanta West MP, Ebenezer Kojo Kum, to participate in the passage of the levy.

“On a day where it mattered the most, leadership failed and that is what they will be remembered by when the history of this shambolic spectacle is written.

“If the NPP was so determined to the point of wheeling a seriously ill MP in an ambulance to vote, the NDC had no excuse not exhausting legitimate parliamentary procedure to get its member into the chamber to vote,” he said in his Facebook post.

He blamed the NDC for not being ardent to oppose the NPP for some of its decisions in the House.

“Everyone knows the NPP is horrible, but that’s why you need a serious opposition to hold their balls by the fire and not make them get away with the kind of horrendous things they are getting away with in parliament,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Minority had accused the Majority Caucus of smuggling into the Order Paper, the consideration of the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy).

According to the Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu, E-levy was not listed in Parliament’s business statement for this week.

He questioned why the Majority will pull such a surprise on the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislators.

The Minority has also vowed to contest the decision at the Supreme Court.

“The Majority of less than 137 conducting business only proceeded on illegal and unconstitutional business. Parliament did not have the numbers to take any decision that should be binding on Parliament and Ghanaians.”

“I think they have to come again on E-levy because as of today, I don’t think they had the numbers to say that the E-levy has been passed. We will question this decision in [the Supreme court on the basis of the earlier ruling and on the basis of the fact that they said we can’t take a decision with 137 [members], but they can take with 137.”

The E-levy bill was approved by the House on Tuesday after it was considered under a certificate of urgency.

This decision was reached after the Consideration Stage was completed by a Majority-sided House on Tuesday.

The Bill was adopted at a reduced rate of 1.5% from the initial 1.75% amid a Minority walkout.

President Akufo-Addo is expected to assent to the bill.

The tax which has become a subject of debate among Ghanaians is expected to rake in close to ¢6 billion in tax revenue for the country.