E-Levy approval: Ofori Atta woos Minority

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta is courting the support of the Minority in Parliament relative to the approval of the E-Levy bill as Parliament reconvenes next week.

In a letter to the leader of the Minority Caucus and copied to the Rt Hon Speaker, Majority leader, and others, the Finance minister has called for the invaluable co-operation of the Minority towards the approval of the E-levy Bill as well as other deliverables as Parliament resumes this year.

“In the spirit of burden-sharing as demonstrated by the Financial institutions and telecommunication industry, we trust that we can count on your invaluable cooperation towards the approval of the E-levy Bill as well as other key deliverables of this Ministry when business resumes in Parliament this year,” it reads in part.

“We look forward to joining hands with you to collectively transform our economy and realize the President’s vision of a wealthy, inclusive Sustainable, Empowered and Resilient(WISER) society, that is a Ghana Beyond Aid,” it added

Parliament is expected to reconvene on January 25, 2022, after proceedings to continue the resolution as to whether the E-Levy Bill should be considered under a Certificate of urgency or not ended abruptly in December as the First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu announced the House had adjourned sitting sine die.

This came after the House reconvened Tuesday, December 21, 2021, following the abrupt suspension of sittings by the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrews Asiamah, after a fight broke out during the voting on the E-levy on Monday, December 20, 2021.

The House was expected to make progress following the clash between the Minority and Majority during voting on the floor of the House when the First Deputy Speaker took leave of the Speaker’s chair for the Second Deputy Speaker to enable him to participate in voting.

The Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu after the correction of Votes and Proceedings on the floor of the House implored the First Deputy Speaker to adjourn the House in the hope to continue business in a more serene atmosphere when it reconvenes.

He prayed the sit-in Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, to adjourn the House until on or about January 18, 2022, for cooler heads to prevail because according to him, the House was not in a serene environment to conduct business, considering the events of the previous night.

The Majority Leader recalled that the House adjourned sitting on Monday, December 20, and indicated it will be reconvening at 9:00 am Tuesday, December 21, 2021, but have been waiting for all this while and making the necessary calls which have seen nothing responsive.

He said an adjournment would allow coolers to come back to the House for them to continue with business in a much more serene environment and in that regard invited the Speaker to adjourn the House in the hope of them to come back on January 18 or thereabout. The Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu seconding the motion said the adjournment will allow for more consultations on all pertinent issues stressing that the country should not suffer as a result of some happenings in Parliament recently.

He said it was important for them to carry the country along, and that they need to demonstrate to the country that Ghana’s democracy is growing and will not suffer some unacceptable scenes and spectacles witnessed on the floor and concurred with the Majority Leader to adjourn the House sine die for some consultation on the outstanding issue.

The First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu consequently adjourned sitting sine die without the passage of the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy of 1.75% into an Act.

Furthermore, the Finance Minister, however, expressed appreciation to the Minority Caucus for its appreciation for their support throughout 2021.