The Minority in parliament says they will vote against the E-levy in parliament if government does not come clear with its revision on issues of the E-levy on the floor of parliament.
According to the minority, the Finance Minister has still not presented to the House details of the revision of the E-levy.
Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, Member of Parliament(MP) for Banda constituency who doubles as the deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim explained that the Finance Minister has refused to provide the House with details of what government has agreed to with the revision of the E-levy which has become subject of discussion at the committee level.
"If they think they can smuggle the E-levy on the blind side of the minority and cause it to be accepted, then they are wrong. I can assure that we in the minority will vote against it," he said.
"The Finance Minister has refused to present to the House full details of his report especially on the E-levy at the committee level for discussion. We in the minority can assure him that we will reject it if he continues to dilly-dally with us on the E-levy. Ghanaians deserve better," he added.
E-Levy
The Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, however, noted that the government and the Minority were yet to reach consensus on the electronic transactions levy (E-Levy), which announcement on November 17 generated heated controversies in and outside Parliament.
The Minister expressed optimism that the various concessions reached, which had been communicated to Parliament, would pave the way for the relevant committees of Parliament to reflect on the modifications in the 2022 Budget, as well as begin considering the various estimates of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Although Mr Ofori-Atta did not say what the government was prepared to trade-off with regard to the introduction of the E-Levy, he said it was confident that a consensus would be reached between both sides for the Appropriation Bill of 2022 to be passed before Parliament rose on December 17.
The budget was rejected by Parliament on Friday, November 26, this year, before it was approved on Tuesday, November 30, this year.
The controversy that surrounded the 2022 Budget bothered on concerns by the Minority on the Agyapa Royalties deal, the Aker Energy transaction, the lack of budgetary allocations to victims of the Keta tidal wave disaster, the E-Levy and the proposed reversal of the 50 per cent discount policy on the benchmark values.
Ghana needs the 2022 Appropriation Bill to be passed before the end of the year to ensure that public spending continues uninterrupted.
Mr Ofori-Atta said the national budget remained the single most effective tool to address the greatest challenges of the nation.
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Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]
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At this point, it’s obvious the minority Ndc is much concerned about the amount the government will raise through the e-levy to support its programs than the worry it will bring to Ghanaians. A party that can go to Supreme Court to stop free SHS and also sponsor 40 advertisements to run down free SHS can’t in anyway feel the pains of Ghanaians.
Over the years in our political history as Ghanaians, development by various governments is the channel through the budget, programs, and policies and approved by our Honorable members in parliament. Most at times, our honorable members debate to make suggestions and recommendations to the government in power and continue to dialogue on budgets appropriations. Governments need the approval of their budgets to run the affairs for the state. All sectors are factored for allocations within the fiscal year. Both majority and minority agree to disagree but the interest of the nation becomes the priority. The Eight parliaments which happen to be a hung parliament with Majority and Minority has taken an estrange position which could set the nation back if care is not taken. The Minority in Parliament has taken the posturing of allowing government business to go on. Since the budget was read till now, some element of issues which were raised by the minority has been given a listening ear. This posturing can be led to the law of Carma in the future. For example, Adamu Sekonde versus Assin North MP. Election 2012 and 2020. One day, the law of CARMA will deal with each and everyone one. Remember: ABAA WODE BO TAKYI NO, WODE BEBO BAA DA DI.
Go to Parliament and perform your work and stop the media politics. It's about policy issue and decisions. The government in power makes some of these determinations and it's the electorates to decide whether it was bad or not during elections. NDC has never supported any ground breaking policy decisions of the NPP anyway. From the NHIS, School Feeding Program, NYEP, Capitation Grant, FREE SHS, etc. Ghanaians don't really expect anything different from you and the NDC on the E-levy - a game changer for the development of this economy. No country can develop based on loans but on Taxes!! What we need to do as Ghanaians is to hold the politicians to account for every pesewa accrued from this e-levy tax. Gone should be the days when a fresh graduate associates with a political party with no work experience but begins to own houses all over Ghana and drives V8 and other vehicles around with impunity. #SayNotoCorruptPoliticians!!
Anti-progress party, like NDC!