E-Levy: Minority challenges no quorum passage at SC

Minority Caucus has said there was no quorum, per the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, for a one-sided parliament made up of 136 MPs, to have passed the controversial e-levy on Tuesday, 29 March 2022. It has, thus, decided to challenge the passage of the bill at the Supreme Court. The minority has filed stay of execution.

The bill was passed after the Minority side staged a walkout during the consideration of the bill.

Addressing journalists after the house adjourned sitting, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said: “They [Majority Caucus] were simply less than 137”.

I’m using 137 because conspicuously, everybody in the world and Ghana knows the Honourable Adwoa Safo was not present and, therefore, you had 137”, he computed.

Additionally, he noted, “We know that there was an ambulance within the precincts of parliament but the person who is purported to have been in the ambulance was not present in the chamber for the purpose of exercising a vote. Therefore, every decision that they took with 136 flies against the ruling of the Supreme Court”.

“And for emphasis, I’m going to read page 12 of the Supreme Court ruling: There is a second quorum provision spelt out in article 104(1). This provision applies specifically and exclusively to voting to determine a matter in parliament. Article 104(1) provides as follows: ‘Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, matters in parliament shall be determined by the votes of the majority of members present and voting with, at least, half of all the members of parliament present’”.

Mr Iddrisu noted: “During the second reading, you did not have half of the MPs present. During the consideration stage, you did not have half of MPs present per the Supreme Court ruling. And, during the third reading, you did not have more than half of the MPs present and voting”.

“Therefore, those of you who are celebrating with them that e-levy has been passed and accordingly passed, your excitement will be short-lived”, he warned.

He said: “Immediately after this press briefing, we intend to file to question the legitimacy of the decision of less than one-half of MPs taking a decision to approve e-levy at second reading, following our walkout and at third reading, which is required”.

E-Levy: Adwoa Safo, ‘Ambulance MP’ absent, meet us at SC over no quorum- Minority

Minority Caucus of Parliament has filed stay of execution to challenge the majority-sided passage of the E-levy Bill in at the Supreme  Court because the house did not have quorum.

In a sharp reaction after the decision Presided over by Bagbin, the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said “The passage of the bill is illegal and unconditional. We will challenge it”.

Parliament has approved the controversial Electronic Transactions (E-Levy) Bill on Tuesday afternoon. The on the controversial proposed law decision was arrived at after  consideration stage was completed by a Majority-sided House on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

It was considered under a certificate of urgency.

The Bill was adopted at a reduced rate of 1.5%from the initial 1.75% amid a Minority walkout.

Parliament approves E-Levy Bill, awaiting Presidential assent. President Akufo-Addo is expected to assent to the bill.

The tax which has become a subject of debate among Ghanaians is expected to rake in close to ¢6 billion in tax revenue for the country.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has already hinted that its structures have been revised and ready to ensure mobilization of the income.

Today, the Finance Minister was in Parliament to push for the Bill’s passage a day to President Akufo-Addo’s State of The Nation Address.

From the onset, the Minority had accused the Majority Caucus of smuggling into the Order Paper the consideration of the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy).

According to the Tamale South MP, E-levy was not enlisted in Parliament’s business statement for this week.

He questioned why the Majority will pull such a surprise on the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislators.

But Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei-Asare, urged Members of Parliament to join hands in passing the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Bill to enhance the country’s economic recovery process.

According to her, Ghanaians have already accepted the tax revenue measure and expect its passage.

This, she stated, will help address domestic challenges derailing growth of the local economy, a development which has led to a high cost of living in the country.

But after a 30-minute break, the Minority Leader announced that his side will have nothing to do with the Bill.

He maintained that the outcome will bring untold hardship to the populace. On that note, he led the NDC MPs to vacate the chamber.

After this development, the House, despite the Minority’s absence embarked on a speedy consideration and amendment of a few changes in the bill following which the motion was moved to accept it.

In a voice vote, the Minority sided Parliament admitted the E-Levy Bill.

Speaker, Alban Bagbin adjourned the sitting to tomorrow, March 30, 2022.

“Honourable members, the Electronic Transfer Levy Bill 2021 duly read the third time and passed”, Bagbin stated.

Source: africaneditors.com