The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has described the move by the Minority to get the Supreme Court to annul the passage of the E-levy, as an overreaction.
Speaking on the petition by some Members of the Minority at the Supreme Court, he averred that the Minority has taken such a step to please its followers. “You decided to go to court on a matter that has already been settled. So, for me, this court case is much ado about nothing.”
The Majority Leader then clarified that the House was duly informed about the consideration of the E-levy bill in the sitting prior to the meeting which saw the E-levy being passed. He averred that the Minority members knew because it put out a statement indicating that the Bill will be considered. “My deputy announced it on the floor of Parliament because I had traveled. So, if anybody says the Minority didn’t know, I will be shocked.”
Commenting on the attack by the Minority on the Chief clerk as a result of the mistake in the attendance of the Parliamentarians, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu questioned why the Speaker was as well not attacked by the Minority. He disclosed that the final document with regards to the attendance is also authenticated by the Speaker and he is to blame as well. “If there is any mistake, why do you choose to out the head of the clerk of the government and leave out the Speaker?”
According to the Majority leader, where the Minority members directed their anger was not appropriate. He revealed that some of the MP’s captured as absent were truly absent and disclosed that the authentication was done by the Speaker and the clerk.
“Truth of the matter is that, for all practical purposes, it is the clerks at tables. Because documents are prepared very late in the evening, the clerk will barely see them. So, if there will be any deficiency and anybody will have to be cited for the deficiencies then its the two of them [ Speaker and Chief Clerk] who should be cited. So why are you hammering and taking the clerk to the cleaners when you don’t want to mention the Speaker?”
Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu
Osei Kyei- Mensah Bonsu described as most unfortunate the accusation of the Clerk by the Minority. He stated that the NDC clearly wants to “whine down” all state agencies including Parliament.
“So, if they think that they don’t agree with you, then they descend on you. As far as they are concerned, you must be NPP. You saw what happened recently? With the ruling from the court and how they took the Justices of the Supreme Court to the cleaners? Now, you find confidence to rush to them again?”
Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu
Supreme Court ruling not judicial support for E-levy
Reacting to claims that the ruling by the Supreme Court to allow Deputy Speakers vote whiles Presiding, was a judicial support for E-levy, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu intimated that it was not the case. The Majority Leader posited that voting by Deputy Speakers are rudimentary. He indicated that in all established jurisdictions, Deputy Speakers vote because they are Members of Parliament who have voting rights.
“So, give me one example where Deputy Speakers don’t have voting rights. Ghana is not an Island and the constitution only provides for the Speaker not to have a casting vote. It has nothing to do with the Deputy Speakers even when they are presiding.”
Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu
Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu’s comments followed the Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrissu and two other Members of NDC in Parliament going to the Supreme Court to annul the passage of the contested E-levy. The Members of the opposition claimed in their suit that there was no quorum when Members of the Minority walked out of the chamber, implying that the Majority did not follow the right procedure to pass the bill.
The President, however, assented to the bill for it to become a law which meant that, from May 1, 2022, some electronic transactions including mobile money transfers will be charged the 1.5 percent tax.
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