The Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) Bill is back on Parliament’s agenda, barely a week after the Finance Minister failed to show up for questioning on the state of the economy.
On March 24, the Majority explained that Ken Ofori-Atta wrote to the House indicating that he will not be available because he was still gathering facts and data on the questions asked.
Later that day, the Minister held a press conference to outline new measures taken by the government to mitigate the economic downturn confronting the country.
Today, the Finance Minister and the Minister of State in charge of Finance, Charles Adu-Boahen, have both been sighted on the floor of the House.
The passage of the controversial Bill has also found expression in the Order Paper.
Speaker Alban Bagbin is back in the House and presiding over the business of the day.
Parliament is expected to debate the Levy but NDC MPs feel betrayed by the approach.
Speaking in the House, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu accused the Majority of smuggling the consideration of the Levy into the Order Paper.
According to him, the E-Levy did not find expression in the business statement.
He has, therefore, questioned the rationale behind the Majority side’s motive to pull such a surprise.
Mr Iddrisu noted that the NDC remains opposed to the levy.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo is expected to deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.
This sessional address, which is pursuant to Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, was postponed because the President was unable to deliver it on March 3.
The postponement led to criticisms from members of the Minority Caucus who said the delay has stalled stakeholder engagements on some key bills, including the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill. But the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has refuted claims made by the Minority MPs
