Minority Reacts To Supreme Court Dismissal of E-Levy Injunction Case

The Minority in Parliament has expressed satisfaction with the performance of its legal team in an application for an interlocutory injunction against the implementation of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy).

The case filed at the Supreme Court by three Members of Parliament from the minority side – MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga and MP for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa, was on Wednesday, May 4, dismissed by a unanimous decision.

Despite the dismissal, the minority is satisfied that the lawyers have been able to cause the court to direct the GRA to keep accurate records of all the E-Levy transactions until the substantive matter is determined.

“But what is refreshing and heartwarming today is the second part of the ruling which gives directives to the Ghana Revenue Authority to preserve and keep the money. At least some people will not be in a hurry to collateralized the money until the matter is determined. For us, we raised this matter because it is of public interest significance, it’s of constitutional significance and we think that we’ll pursue it to its logical conclusion, so we’re very happy with the performance of our lawyers”, Minority Leader and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu told the press.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General, Godfred Dame has said the applicants failed to prove that there were irregularities in the approval of the e-levy by Parliament, the reason for the dismissal of the case.

He said there were no irregularities in the approval as available records in Parliament indicated that there were the required number of MPs present when the House endorsed the e-levy.

“You do not go to court with speculations and conjecture, you go to court on firm evidence….The applicants were unable to demonstrate any form of irregularity,” he told journalists in Accra after the Supreme Court dismissed the application against the e-levy.