The Majority in Parliament has indicated the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) is already being implemented but deductions by service providers are yet to begin.
Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who disclosed this noted that a bill automatically becomes operational after being approved by Parliament and assented to by the President and therefore the E-levy is already operational.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, April 22, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu argued the plot by the Minority to halt implementation of the Bill was one step too late.
He said, “They say they want to stop the implementation but the bill is already being implemented, I don’t know what they mean by that. Upon the assent of the President the bill, if Parliament has not postponed the operation, immediately after the assent becomes into operation.
The Minority leader and two of his colleagues have filed an injunction application against the e-levy at the Supreme Court that seeks to block the commencement of the e-levy deductions with the hearing set for May 4.
However, addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC), Majority leader Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu warned anyone who falls foul of the E-levy Bill can be prosecuted because it has already been assented to by the President.
“So this bill is in operation, the necessary structures are being put in place now but it doesn’t mean it is not being implemented, it is being implemented if the Minister tells you that the actual collection starts from 1st May,” he said.
According to him, the Minority’s action is breeding a dangerous precedent in Ghana and stressed Minority and opposition parties exist in Parliament as a whole to put the government on its toes, especially through its committees.
He argued that if something untoward happens a Committee, an individual or the caucus could raise the matter rather than rush to court.
He said, “The business of the house requires that these matters are mooted through Parliament using the structures to challenge decisions that are taken. If you are saying that you don’t think it was an appropriate representation in the House and you have taken a decision you can come by a motion.”
“As far as I am concerned, let us endeavour to exhaust the processes and procedures in Parliament, if you are not satisfied and you want to move further upstairs, yes.”
“But at the say-so of an individual you rush to court when the matter had not been dealt with in Parliament, it is a very dangerous precedent in this country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has revealed that the implementation of the e-levy would start on 1st May this year.