NDC remains Majority Caucus, e-levy, betting tax to be scrapped Tuesday -Dr. Ato Forson

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament has reaffirmed its status as the new majority following Speaker Bagbin’s declaration of four seats as vacant.

Despite a Supreme Court ruling on October 18 that seeks to stay Bagbin’s decision, the NDC asserts that it still holds the majority in Parliament.

During a press conference on October 20, Cassiel Ato Forson, the party’s parliamentary leader, urged Ghanaians to support the Speaker and resist oppressive governance. “From the very beginning, we have remained committed to advocating for the people of Ghana,” he emphasized.

The caucus stated that they will heed only the Speaker regarding the legality of recent developments in Parliament. Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga commented on media inquiries, saying, “We are not aware of any legal basis to suspend a parliamentary decision. We do not act on media reports; we respond to official communications.”

On October 17, Speaker Alban Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant after their occupants chose to run as Independent Candidates in the 2024 elections. Following this, Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin filed an ex-parte motion at the Supreme Court seeking a stay of Bagbin’s ruling. The court granted this stay within 24 hours, allowing the four MPs to reclaim their seats.

Former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, criticized the Supreme Court’s ruling, calling it “amorphous and meaningless” and arguing that it fosters “constitutional lawlessness”.

We’ll ease tax burden with our new Majority status –Dr. Ato Forson

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has committed to using its newly recognized “majority status” in Parliament to ease the tax burden on Ghanaians.

Minority Leader Dr. Ato Forson announced plans to eliminate controversial taxes like the Electronic Transfers Levy (E-Levy) and betting taxes. Speaking at a press conference following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling that declared four parliamentary seats vacant, Dr. Forson emphasized the party’s goal of abolishing what he termed “nuisance taxes.”

He stated that the NDC would leverage its majority to mitigate the economic difficulties imposed by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. Dr. Forson reassured the public that removing unpopular taxes would be a top priority.

“We will use our new majority to introduce private members’ bills aimed at abolishing the E-Levy to alleviate the suffering of our citizens,” he declared. “We will also work to eliminate the betting tax and other burdensome taxes.”

The E-Levy, introduced by the NPP, has faced significant backlash from the public, with many expressing concerns about its negative effects on transactions and economic activity. Similarly, the new tax on betting and gaming has drawn criticism, particularly from young people who depend on these platforms for income.

Dr. Forson further condemned the NPP for establishing a “high tax regime” that he claims has hindered business growth and pushed many Ghanaians to financial distress. He assured both the business community and the public that the NDC would advocate for their interests.

“This NPP government has turned Ghana into a high tax regime, impacting both businesses and individuals. We promise to use our new majority to safeguard the interests of Ghanaians,” he said.

While the Supreme Court’s stay on Speaker Bagbin’s ruling has temporarily paused changes in parliamentary dynamics, the NDC remains determined to uphold its majority status and pursue legislative reforms to lessen the financial burden on citizens.

Parliament is set to reconvene on Tuesday, October 22, where the Speaker’s response to the Supreme Court ruling will be closely watched.

Read the full statement by NDC Caucus

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