Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and the Majority Leader in Parliament, has claimed that the controversial E-Levy has already been approved by Parliament.
The Majority Leader made these remarks in a capacity building workshop in response to threats by the minority side of the house that they will shoot down the E-Levy again when Parliament reconvenes – a tax policy the minority described as ‘draconian’ and ‘insensitive’.
According to the Suame Member of Parliament (MP), the only thing outstanding of the E-Levy is for Parliament to give it a legislative backing. The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs explained that the question of approval for the E-Levy has long been answered when Parliament took certain actions.
“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. What this means is that you have approved of the E-Levy.”
Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu
E-levy Concerns Must Be Addressed
On the other hand, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, urged leadership of his party and the Finance Ministry to as a matter of fact, address the concerns raised against the rate for the E-levy proposal.
The lawmaker therefore, called for an assessment of the arguments for and against the proposal, and then adopt and present to the nation a more polished and compelling E-levy proposals that the good people of Ghana cannot reject. According to the Deputy Majority Leader, concerns about wastage in the system is also one of the legitimate concerns which must be considered.
“Out of the many unfounded claims against the proposed E-levy, there are nonetheless, some legitimate concerns that we must work hard to address.
“I believe the proposed rate and concerns about waste in our public finance system are examples that we must resolve necessary, and thoroughly assess the concrete arguments for and against the E-levy and then adopt and present to the nation a refined and compelling E-levy proposals that the good people of Ghana cannot reject.”
Alexander Afenyo-Markin
Allow Us to Implement the E-levy
That notwithstanding, Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr Stephen Amoah, begged the NDC minority caucus in Parliament to allow the majority side of the house to pass the e-levy bill if they believed the passage of the bill will make the ruling government unpopular.
“If NDC believes that the e-Levy is a killer tax and will make the government unpopular, why are they not supporting us to dig our own grave which politically will inure to our misfortune in 2024?”
Stephen Amoah
Dr Amoah indicated the passage of the E-Levy will keep National Democratic Congress (NDC) in opposition for a long time. He explained that the NDC’s fear of the passage of the E-Levy is because it will propel development and raise living standards of Ghanaians, hence their consistent propaganda and opposition.
“The NDC is aware that there’s something good in the e-levy, that’s why they have mounted stern opposition to its passage because they know government will acquire enough proceeds to pursue developmental agenda hence their consistent.”
Stephen Amoah
However, Parliament sets January 25, 2022 to resume sitting, and it is yet to be known if the majority side of the house will table the e-levy proposal for voting and subsequent approval.
