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The Member of Parliament(MP) for Banda constituency, Ahmed Ibrahim, has disclosed what the Minority had to do just to shore up their numbers to stop the passage of the Electronic Transfer Levy Bill.

According to him, their action was necessary because both sides of the House had to rally their numbers to ensure that they push forward their interests.

He was debunking claims that the Minority's opposition and subsequent walk-out during the passage of the bill was a ruse. There were reports that behind the scenes, the Minority had come to an agreement with the Majority.

However, speaking in an interview on Neat FM's "Me Man Nti" programme, the Banda MP, who is also the Deputy Minority Chief Whip, disclosed that they even had to bring in an NDC MP who was indisposed.

"To be able to mobilise people in this Parliament within 14 hours is not simple. The honourable Member for Akatsi South, Bernard Ahiafor was in Amsterdam, we airlifted him. The honourable member for Jomoro, Dorcas Toffey was in Takoradi, we brought her. The honourable Sukparu (Mohammed Adams Sukparu) who was indisposed, we wheeled him in."

He further disclosed that the Ketu North MP, James Klutse Avedzi was "to go to South Africa we stopped him. The honourable Haruna Iddrisu was to deliver a lecture at the Dubai expo 2022; invited by the Dubai government, he forfeited it."

According to him, "we did all of this because we didn’t know if they wanted to bring it (e-levy) or they won’t, and so to accuse us of being in bed with the Majority after all these sacrifices, I think we are beyond that."

President Nana Akufo-Addo, has meanwhile, signed into law the E-levy Act; two days after the bill was passed by parliament amidst Minority walkout.





AG Sued Over E-Levy Approval

In a related development, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and his colleagues Mahama Ayariga and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, have dragged the Attorney-General to the Supreme Court over the approval of the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy).

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.

Last Tuesday, the House approved the policy without the participation of National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs.

The Tamale South MP and his colleagues want the Supreme Court to declare that the said approval was contrary to law.

They are seeking the following reliefs;

“a. A declaration that on the authority of the Supreme Court case of Justice Abdulai v. Attorney-General, Writ No. J1/07/2022 dated 9th March, 2022, the constitutional quorum number for decision-making and voting within the meaning of Article 104(1) of the 1992 Constitution is 138 Members of Parliament out of the 275 Members of Parliament and not 137 Members of Parliament.

b. A declaration that on a true and proper interpretation of articles 2(1)(b) and 104(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, there was no quorum to enable the 137 Members of Parliament of the Majority Caucus present in Parliament on 29th March, 2022 to pass the Electronic Transactions Levy (‘’E-Levy’’).

c. A declaration that on a true and proper interpretation of Article 104(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the passing of the Electronic Transactions Levy (‘’E-Levy’’) by the 137 Members of Parliament of the Majority Caucus present in Parliament on the 29th March 2022 without the requisite quorum number of 138 Members of Parliament present in Parliament, is null and void and of no legal effect.

d. An order of the Honourable Court setting aside the passing of the Electronic Transactions Levy (‘’E-Levy’’) by the 137 Members of Parliament of the Majority Caucus present in Parliament on the 29th March, 2022 as a nullity.

e. Any other order(s) the Honourable Court may deem fit.”