E-Levy: Bagbin has returned so what’s accounting for delay in bringing bill for consideration? – Akandoh quizzes gov’t

The Member of Parliament for Juaboso in the Western North region, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has questioned the delay in the tabling of the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) bill before the House.

According to him, the return of Speaker, Alban Bagbin presents an opportune time for the Majority to present the bill for consideration.

The E-Levy seeks to impose a 1.75% levy on transactions, including Mobile money transfers done between accounts on the same Electronic Money Issuers (EMI), Mobile money transfers from accounts on one EMI to a recipient on another EMI, Transfers from bank accounts to mobile money accounts (either directly, GIP debit, bank cards or another scheme), Transfers from mobile money accounts to bank accounts (either directly, GIP debit, bank cards or another scheme) and Bank transfers originating from a bank account belonging to an individual.

But the introduction of the bill has met stiff opposition from well-meaning Ghanaians including the opposition NDC who argue it will further compound the hardships of the ordinary Ghanaian.

But the government has assured that a revised bill will be relaid in Parliament after its townhall meeting which is explaining to the general populace the rationale behind the introduction of the levy.

Contributing to the business statement for the week, Mr Akandoh in making the call for the bill to be brought before the House said some members of the Majority have alleged that the bill has not been presented due to the absence of the Speaker.

“May I know when the E-Levy will be brought back on the floor of the house for consideration, I say so because some members of this honourable house are going round in the country that some of us (minority) are secretly supporting the E-Levy. Whether or not we support the E-Levy it must be brought before the house so the numbers will project so.”

“Mr Speaker some of their leaders have also blamed Mr Speaker for not being in the seat for the E-Levy to be taken, Mr Speaker has arrived in the country and he has been sitting. Today we are reading the Business and there is no indication of that effect. Then when Mr Speaker travels they will come and blame him again. They must be serious,” he said in Parliament on Friday.

Source: Thenewsroomonline