Mahama Ayariga, a Bawku Central lawmaker, has stated why the Minority withdrew from Parliament during the passage of the E-levy.
The Minority in Parliament staged a walkout during the second reading of the E-levy on Tuesday, March 29. They left after Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu stated that the NDC MPs are unified in their opposition to the proposal.
He branded the policy idea as punitive during Tuesday’s House floor debate on the E-levy, saying that if passed, it would increase the “high cost of doing business in the country.”
“The e-levy is the most obnoxious of obnoxious taxes,” he added, adding that “companies are suffering under your watch.” We are unified in our opposition to the E-levy, and we will not vote for it.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta moved a motion for the passage of the E-levy in Parliament.
- Haruna, Ayariga, and Ablakwa have taken the AG to the Supreme Court over the passage of the E-Levy.
- The minority’s opposition to the E-levy is scaring away investors, according to Ofori-Atta.
This was after he presented a statement on the E-levy in the House.
“I, therefore, move the motion” for the passage of the E-levy, he said. Obuasi West MP Kwaku Kwarteng seconded the motion.
However, just before he finished making his statement Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu rose and said they could not deliberate on it because they did have access to the report. His position was supported by Tamale Central lawmaker Murtala Mohammed.
Ruling on the matter, Speaker Alban Bagbin said, “The copies of the report are being distributed now, I don’t think it is proper for us to suspend sitting, I will give you time to read the report to make a meaningful contribution.”
Speaking on this issue on the Sunrise show on 3FM with Alfred Ocansey on Wednesday March 30, Mr Ayariga said “Technically speaking, the minority would have been 136 as of the time we were to vote. If we had proceeded with the voting process the majority would have been 137 as against 136 with the minority.”
