The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has served notice its members in Parliament will boycott this year’s Message on the State of the Nation to protest attempts by the government to use the Supreme Court ruling to pass the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy).
President Nana Addo Danknwa Akufo-Addo was expected to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 3rd March but has since been postponed indefinitely.
General Secretary of the opposition, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said the party has outlined new strategies aimed at blocking any attempt to have the E-levy passed after the Supreme Court’s decision, which includes the SONA boycott.
He indicated the NDC Functional Executive Committee has met with the leadership of the Minority Group on the Supreme Court’s judgement of 9th March, 2022 on a Deputy Speaker’s right to vote when presiding and the formation of a quorum for parliamentary business.
Among the strategies that the party plans to pursue to block approval of the E-levy include: Ensuring there will be no quorum in the week of the E-levy debate; The Minority shall frustrate the Deputy Speaker anytime he presides over the House and sponsoring Justice Abdulai to seek a review of the case.
“The leadership of the Party and our leadership in Parliament are utterly shocked and disappointed at this blatant abuse of judicial power and failure of the court to attain the ends of justice on the part of the ordinary people of this country, especially where the violation of our constitution is being sought to pass the unpopular E-levy.”
“The ruling concerns about the role of the Supreme Court in protecting our democracy, rule of law and constitutional rule. We have resolved that the ruling has changed nothing and the Minority Group in Parliament will keep operating as it has,” a statement issued by the party said.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia urged members of the Minority group to, therefore, take note and strictly comply with the decision.
Source: Mypublisher24.com