By Bubu Klinogo
The Majority in Parliament has used its numbers on the Finance Committee to push through the controversial E-levy under a certificate of urgency. When the matter came up for discussions at the Committee sitting earlier today, the Minority MPs on the Committee kicked against consideration of the bill under a Certificate of Urgency, however, the Majority insisted. Eventually, it had to be subjected to voting. All 12 Minority MPs voted against it and all 12 Majority MPs voted for it. However, the Chairman of the Committee, exercise a casting vote and voted in favour of the Bill being considered under a Certificate of Urgency.
Ranking Member on the Committee, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson in an interview with the Parliamentary Press Corps described the development as a ”sad day for democracy”, and shows how insensitive the government is.
On the substantive issue of the E-levy, the Minority maintained its stance that under no circumstance should mobile money transactions be taxed. This too was subjected to another vote and just like the first scenario, it had to take the Chairman of the Committee to break the deadlock as the initial vote ended 12 in favor and 12 against. Dr. Ato Forson, however, maintained that it is not over yet and the Minority will remain resolute and battle it out with the Majority at the plenary. He remained hopeful that all 137 Minority Members of Parliament will kick against the Bill.
The Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim attempted to arrest proceedings in Parliament December 20, 2021, when he raised issues with the Order Paper for the day.
Order Paper
According to him, the Business For Every Day is arranged by the Business Committee and that is carried onto the Order Paper. Mr. Ibrahim however maintained that the Business Committee did not meet to consider any business and therefore he was at a loss as to how the Order Paper was prepared.
He, therefore, requested the Speaker to suspend sitting until the Business Committee met and took a decision on what to do.
The House was originally scheduled to have adjourned sine die last December 17, 2021, for the Christmas holidays, but, because they could not exhaust all the business as the controversial E-Levy Bill was outstanding.
The House was thus adjourned to December 20, 2021. However, since this is a new week, the order of business for the day ought to have been arranged by the Business Committee and presented to the House by the Chairman of the Business Committee.
Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, agreed with the Deputy Minority Whip. He however explained that it was an oversight, due to the fact that the items on the Order Paper are largely outstanding businesses which were already adopted.
He took responsibility for what happened but craved the indulgence of the Deputy Minority Whip to allow proceedings to go ahead.
After a plea from the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, the House eventually adopted the Order Paper and proceedings continued.
Members were yet to decide on the E-Levy