The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has said the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) cannot start the e-levy deductions on the 1st of May following the injunction application filed by the Minority at the Supreme Court.

On Tuesday April 19 the Minority in Parliament filed an application at the Supreme Court to block the commencement of the e-levy deductions.

Speaking in interview with TV3, Mr Sammy Gyamfi who is also a private legal practitioner said “We have applied for an injunction. The returning date for that injunction application is 4th of May.

” The parties have been duly served and so what that means is that until that application is moved and determined , the Ghana Revenue Authority cannot begin the implementation of the e-levy on the 1st of May.”

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta earlier revealed that the implementation of the e-levy would start in May this year.

“We had some meetings with Controller and Accountant Generals Department (CAGD) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and they have said right at the beginning of May they should be able to put their system together,” he told TV3’s Roland Walker in Parliament after President Nana Akufo-Addo delivered the State of the Nation Address on Wednesday March 30.

The E-levy was passed by Parliament on Tuesday March 29, after the third reading in the House. The Minority staged a walkout during the second reading. They walked out after Mr Iddrisu said the NDC MPs remain united in opposing the policy.

Contributing to the E-levy debate on the floor of the House, he described the policy proposal as punitive which if approved will further increase the “the high cost of doing business in the country.”

“E-levy is the nuisance of nuisance tax,” he said, adding that “businesses are suffering under your watch. We are united that we will not support E-levy, we will not vote for E-levy.”