We are ready to face Govt in Supreme Court over E-Levy – Minority MPs
Member of Parliament(MP) for North Tongu Constituency Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has served notice that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is poised to protect the public from paying the controversial E-Levy as they face government at the Supreme Court today.
The Supreme Court of Ghana will today, May 4, hear the application brought before it by three Minority MPs against the implementation of the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy).
The MPs filed the suit on Tuesday, April 19, following the bill’s passage by the Majority Caucus on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, despite a walkout by the Minority Caucus.
They contend that Parliament did not have the required number of at least half of its members present when the controversial tax policy was approved.
The three MPs, led by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, want the Supreme Court to declare that the said approval was contrary to law.
The two other MPs are Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu, and Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga.
The MPs insist that the e-levy would worsen the plight of Ghanaians in the face of current harsh economic challenges.
The MPs subsequently sought an injunction against the implementation pending its substantive case; however, that did not stop it from seeing the light of day.
As a result, Mr. Ablakwa has said they have given express instructions to their lawyers to cite the Attorney General, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), for contempt of court.
Meanwhile, after its implementation on May 1, the new tax policy has faced a lot of criticism.
Some include the failure of the system to identify and exempt transactions below ¢100 as stipulated in the Act.
However, in a tweet, Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa noted that he and the other two MPs will fearlessly make sure the 1992 Constitution is protected.
“Finally, the day for the E – Levy Showdown in the Supreme Court is here.
We are ready to fearlessly and uncompromisingly defend and uphold the 1992 Constitution – May God Help us. We deeply appreciate your unflinching solidarity. What’s your prediction?” he wrote.
What do we know about E- Levy?
The Electronic Transaction Levy was contained in the 2021 financial statement presented to Parliament by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The tax, according to the government will attract 1.75 percent on mobile money transactions, but since the start of the deduction of the levy, experts have said the government cannot reach the target since most people are withdrawing from the various platforms.
About Author
