The Deputy Finance Minister, Dr John Ampontuah Kumah says the Minority is going to the Supreme Court over the passage of the controversial E-Levy just to calm their supporters down.
After the E-Levy was passed, the Minority on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, gave an indication to contest the decision at the Supreme Court, saying it was passed without their participation.
Subsequently, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, and his colleagues; Mahama Ayariga and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa dragged the Attorney-General to the Supreme Court over the approval of the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy).
They contend that Parliament did not have the required number of at least, half of its members present when the controversial tax policy was approved.
Read Also: I’m happy Parliament found it possible to pass E-levy- Akufo- Addo
They, thus, want the Supreme Court to declare that the said approval was contrary to law.
Speaking on Atinka TV‘s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Dr John Ampontuah Kumah recalled that the Former President, John Dramani Mahama said the National Democratic Congress went to Supreme Court after the 2020 elections for peace to prevail.
According to the Deputy Finance Minister, it is the same thing the Minority is doing now, adding that in the end, they will blame the Supreme court for not defending them when the case goes against them.
Meanwhile, he urged Ghanaians not to be afraid that anything can happen, assuring that the E-levy was passed in the confines of the law.
Dr John Ampontuah Kumah said,”No one should be afraid that the NDC is going to court. Recently, John Mahama said when they go to court, they do not go for victory but they go to court to calm their supporters down. He said he went to the Supreme Court after the elections to calm the supporters and so it is the same thing.”
He continued that, “They are going so that their supporters will get a bit of hope and when things are calm, then calmly, they will blame it on the Supreme court that it did not speak for them, they know they do not have any case so no Ghanaian should be scared that there are issues with the E-Levy, we used the law to do what we did and everything will go on well.”
He confirmed that its implementation will take effect in May.
Meanwhile, he said the passage of the E-levy will help government’s work go on well.
“When you go to the Supreme Court, it does not mean you have won or lost so we are waiting for what the Supreme Court will say. But for now, Government programmes are in place,” he said.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori