‘Desperate’ Akufo-Addo persecuting NDC MPs to pass e-levy bill – Haruna Iddrisu

The Minority in Parliament has accused the Akufo-Addo-led government of ‘desperately’ trying to reduce the number of its caucus to pave way for the easy passage of the controversial Electronic Transactions Levy Bill.

This assertion comes after the Supreme Court on Wednesday, slapped the Assin North Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson with five charges including perjury and forgery for contesting the 2020 Parliamentary elections while holding dual citizenship.

Article 94(a) of the 1992 Constitutions disqualifies any person who owes allegiance to any country apart from Ghana from contesting any parliamentary seat.

In a press statement, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu opined that the ruling of the court smacks of an attempt by government to reduce their numbers in Parliament in order to pass the E-Levy Bill into law.

“Having failed several times to pass the much loathe E-Levy in the wake of the nationalistic resistance of the gallant 137 NDC Members of Parliament, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government has now resorted to crude and disgraceful tactics to reduce the numbers of the NDC MPs in the august house of Parliament, hoping that would help the regime to railroad the unpopular E-Levy into law,” excerpts of the statement reads.

“We wish to serve notice to the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government that the Minority Caucus in Parliament and its gallant 137 Members will remain resolute against the obnoxious E-levy because it is regressive, punitive and will not advance the interest and welfare of our people, especially at this time when Ghanaians are already overburdened with draconian taxes left, right and center, amidst growing economic hardships,” he added.