The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament today Tuesday, March 29 staged a walkout during the second reading on the E-levy.
The Minority Caucus walked out after its Leader Mr. Haruna Iddrisu said the NDC MPs remain united in opposing the policy.
The Minority Leader contributing to the E-levy debate on the floor of the House described the policy proposal as punitive which if approved will further escalate the “the high cost of doing business in the country.”
“E-levy is the nuisance of nuisance tax,” Mr. Iddrisu maintained, adding that “businesses are suffering under your watch. We are united that we will not support E-levy, we will not vote for E-levy.”
The Minister of Finance Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta moved a motion for the passage of the E-levy in Parliament.
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 and Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Mr. Kwaku Kwarteng seconded the motion.
Even though the Minority Leader raised objection to the deliberations on it saying they (Minority did have access to the report. His position was supported by Tamale Central lawmaker Murtala Mohammed.
But the Speaker, Rt. Hon Alban Bagbin, in his ruling on the matter, 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.”
Story: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
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