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Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has dared the minority in parliament to go to court over the passage of the controversial E-levy bill.

He says they will be strongly met in court.

Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he wondered why his colleagues from the minority who he believes know the laws and standing orders of Parliament will think resorting to court is the best option to register their displeasure over the passage of the bill.

"You people have been part of the process from day one and even made major contributions to it. Why do you want to all of a sudden make the public feel you are sympathetic to them and against the passage of the bill?" he rhetorically asked.

"No one can stop you from going to court but I can assure you that you are going to be schooled again on the standing orders of the House if you have forgotten," he added.

"I can tell you that we did not breach any parliamentary procedure in the lead-up to the passage, we followed the parliamentary procedure and the standing order of the House."

We Will Go To Court - Minority Assures Over Passage Of E-Levy

The Minority is not backing down on their bid to prevent the implementation of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Bill.

Parliament is now waiting on President Akufo-Addo to assent to the approved tax.

The Majority in Parliament approved the E-Levy after the Minority walked out saying the tax is a tool to exacerbate the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian.

Yesterday’s decision was reached after the Consideration Stage was completed under a certificate of urgency.

But the Minority has given an indication to contest the decision at the Supreme Court.

“Even as we prepare to challenge the matter in the Supreme Court, a judicial determination has been made on Article 104 of the Constitution. Clear cut. Anything to the contrary is a sin to Article 104 of the 1992 Constitution and the ruling of the Supreme Court,” he said on Tuesday.

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu insists that the parliamentary procedure was breached in the lead-up to the passage.

Parliament Passes E-levy Bill . . . Minority Stages Walkout

The rubicon has finally been crossed with the passage of the controversial Electronic Levy (E-Levy) bill, despite a spirited attempt by the Minority caucus in Parliament to shoot it down, including the obvious staging of a walkout.

According to the Minority, the Majority pulled a surprise one on them because E-levy was not listed in Parliament’s business statement for this week.

According to the Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu: “We have time and again warned and cautioned that we never want to be taken by surprise on a major economic policy bill of government and we will not accept that culture."

“So when you (Majority Caucus) did not have the numbers, you were hesitant, you won’t come before the House, now that you think that you have some reasonable numbers then you say ‘go to the business of item 27’”.

However, by a voice vote by the Majority caucus after the Speaker of Parliament suspended sitting for 30 minutes, the second reading of the bill was approved.


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