Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has refuted claims that the controversial E-Levy was smuggled into Parliament.
He explained that “I disagree with the notion that it was smuggled in. It was clearly advertised and the minority knew the e-levy would be discussed.”
Alexander Afenyo-Markin said this on Joy FM’s ‘NewsFile’.
He commended the Minority for raising issues on the E-Levy and focusing the ruling party to explain the various issues to Ghanaians.
“The minority did good work that compelled us to explain the e-levy.”
Meanwhile, member of the legal team of the NDC Abraham Amaliba says the signing of the E-Levy bill into law is putting undue pressure on Supreme Court.
According to him, the President engaged in what he described as recklessness in the signing of the e-levy bill into law.
He said Mr Akufo-Addo is fully aware of the suit filed against the approval of the e-levy by the Minority yet, he went ahead to sign the bill, a situation Mr Amaliba said is putting undue pressure on the Supreme Court.
Speaking on TV3 on Friday, April 1, he said “The action of the President has put undue pressure on the justices of the Supreme Court. He was reckless in doing that because he was aware there is a case in the Supreme Court. His act is not illegal but his action, is it desirable?
“He is going to put undue pressure on the judges.”
For his part, the Government’s Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Palgrave Boakye Danquah, said the signing of the e-levy bill into law by the President was not rushed.
He explained that assenting to the bill was right because no injunction had been placed on it.
President Akufo-Addo signed into law the Electronic Transfer Levy Bill also known as the E-levy.
His action now paves the way for the implementation of the levy.
This comes barely a day after the Minority in Parliament filed a suit at the Supreme Court to challenge the passage of the levy, insisting parliament did not have the numbers to pass it.
