You approved the E-levy yet you are claiming to oppose it – Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu fires Minority MPs
Ghana’s legislature is preparing towards its resumption but the issue of the controversial Electronic transaction levy has been brought to the fore again as the leader of the Majority group in Parliament has questioned the Minority’s motive to still oppose the passage of the E-levy.
According to Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, he is surprised by the Minority’s claims, given that the levy had already been approved by the House.
While giving a speech at a capacity building workshop organized for the Majority group in Parliament and some Ministers of State, Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said the E-levy currently needs just the backing of legislation.
“You [Minority] have approved of the E-levy. What is outstanding is now to back the -Elevy with the enabling legislation. So when you have done all these and you turn around to say you are opposed to the bill, it means either you did not know what you were doing or neglected to observe what you needed to have done. Either of which is dangerous for a Member of Parliament.”
“The difficulty for me is when people are kicking against the e-levy when you know that in the adoption of the motion to approve the budget which contains the e-levy as a policy, we approved of that so it means that the first step has already been mounted. The receivables of the e-levy have been factored into the various estimates approved for all the sectors. That is the second thing we did. Thirdly, we encapsulated everything into the appropriations bill and passed it unanimously.”
Ghana’s legislature on December 21, 2021, had to adjourn its sitting to January 25, 2022, without passing the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy of 1.75%.
It came after the house reconvened that day following its sudden suspension of sittings by the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrews Asiamah after a fight broke out during the voting on the levy.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called on the sit-in Speaker, First Deputy Speaker, Joe Osei Owusu, to adjourn the House for cooler heads to prevail.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
