Accra, Dec. 21, GNA – Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has reiterated that the House’s decision to adjourn sitting to January 18, 2022, is an opportunity for further consultations over the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy Bill 2021 (E-Levy).
He said the adjournment of the House was an opportunity for the Government to reach out to the highest leadership of the political opposition in the country to engage, for the purposes of fiscal consolidation, so they could reach compromise and not to necessarily deny Government the needed revenue.
“So, arguably what has happened is to allow for deeper consultations on the way forward, on the nature of what ought to be done about the nature of raising revenue for the Government,” Mr Iddrisu stated at a press conference in Accra, after the adjournment of the House.
“But E-Levy, we unresolved, unequivocally that we will not support it in its current form and nature.”
He urged the Government to cut profligate expenditure and ensure some discipline.
The Minority Leader said the unique nature of the current Parliament, which according to him was a hung Parliament, did emphasis the need to deepen consultation and reach out to the other side of the Ghanaian populace.
He noted that the Minority would collaborate with the Majority provided there was a demonstration of financial discipline and the willingness to cut down unnecessary expenditure.
The Minority Leader indicated that there would be no support from the Minority for the E-Levy in its current form as it sought to take away the income of a larger proportion of the population in multiple phases.
The E-Levy Bill, which is before the House, seeks to impose 1.75 per cent tax on electronic financial transactions.
It has generated heated arguments between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Majority Members of Parliament (MPs), who are for Bill, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority, who are against it.