Audio By Carbonatix
Attorney-General (A-G) Godfred Yeboah Dame says 266 MPs participated in the processes leading up to the approval of the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-levy).
The A-G makes specific reference to the Second Reading of the tax policy, stating that 266 members were present when the question was put on the floor.
On the actual approval of the policy, Mr. Dame says voting was by a voice vote and therefore allegations about the number present are immaterial.
Minority Leader, Haruna Idrissu, and his colleagues Mahama Ayariga and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa have sued the A-G at the Supreme Court seeking to set aside the tax policy.
They contend that Parliament did not have the constitutional threshold of half of its members present when the policy was approved.
The A-G disagrees.
Documents filed on his behalf urge the Supreme Court not to stop the E-levy from taking off on May 1 or even set aside the policy entirely.
He argues that on March 29 when the policy was approved, there were only 274 validly elected Members of Parliament and not 275 because the election of the Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson, had been canceled.
The A-G explains that this is a result of a Court of Appeals' ruling on March 22 which struck out an appeal filed by Mr. Quayson.
The AG, therefore, says the number required to transact Parliamentary business on the said day was 137.
He points out that with the exception of Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Sarfo, all 137 members of the Majority side were present.
“That there is a constitutional and statutory presumption of regularity of all laws passed in Ghana and therefore an injunction to restrain the enforcement of Act 1075 is unjustified especially as plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate a cause of action, “ Mr. Dame concludes.
Latest Stories
-
Parental Presence, Not Just Provision: Why active involvement in children’s education matters
7 minutes -
Ghana Embassy in Doha urges nationals to take shelter after missile attack
28 minutes -
Government’s macroeconomic stability commendable, but we need focus on SME growth – Victoria Bright
43 minutes -
Macro stability won’t matter without food self-sufficiency- Prof. Agyeman-Duah
50 minutes -
How Virtual Security Africa is strengthening safety at Mamprobi Polyclinic
1 hour -
Ghana on right track macroeconomically, but structural gaps remain – Fred Dzanku
1 hour -
ADB MD honoured for impactful leadership at PMI Ghana engagement
1 hour -
Bringing Ofori-Atta’s photo to Parliament and displaying it was unfair – Afenyo-Markin
2 hours -
Minority leader calls 24-Hour economy policy more PR than practical solution
2 hours -
Afenyo-Markin accuses government of using anti-corruption drive to target opponents
2 hours -
GPL: Kotoko announce new board of directors
2 hours -
Minority leader challenges government’s ‘one million jobs’ claim
2 hours -
Afenyo-Markin says entrepreneurs ‘worse off’ under Mahama, criticises GRA’s tax drive
3 hours -
Government too focused on gold, ignoring agriculture- Afenyo-Markin
3 hours -
Livestream: Newsfile discusses the SONA, vanishing ECG credits, ‘no-bed syndrome’
3 hours
