‘We’ll use our new majority to scrap e-levy, betting tax’ – Ato Forson

Members of Parliament belonging to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that it will use its newly acquired “majority status” to serve the interest of Ghanaians.

The caucus says it will file private members bills to abolish what it describes as the “nuisance taxes” imposed on Ghanaians by the government which has made life unbearable for many.

His comment follows the declaration of four seats in Parliament vacant giving the opposition NDC which was the Minority a Majority status, whilst the government NPP which was earlier the Majority has now assumed the role of the Minority.

Although the Supreme Court, following an ex parte motion filed by the leader of the NPP caucus, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has thrashed the ruling of the Speaker, the NDC members say they will resist any attempt by any body outside Parliament that attempts to interfere in the matter.

Addressing the public Sunday, October 20, 2024, following the ruling of Speaker Bagbin, leader of the caucus, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, in a statement delivered on behalf of the caucus, noted that the NDC has always sought the interest of Ghanaians first and that is what it would use its newly status in Parliament to do.

He assured that the notorious Electronic Transactions Levy (E-levy) which many Ghanaians have complained about would be abolished now that the NDC controls Parliament.

“We have never hidden our position that we are in this Parliament for the ordinary Ghanaian. It is indeed true that we will use our new majority numbers to benefit Ghanaians by introducing private members bills to remove the e-Levy to reduce the suffering of the people,” he stated.

He added that the tax on bet winnings and others that are affecting businesses would also be abolished by the newly NDC “majority caucus”.

“It is also true that we will use our new majority to remove the betting tax and other nuisance taxes. Already, this NPP government has made Ghana a high tax regime and that is affecting the survival of businesses and the people. We assure you that we will use our new majority to protect businesses and the people of Ghana, as we have always maintained,” he stated, adding that the actions of the Speaker was apt and serves the interest of the public.

“We are confident that the Rt Hon Speaker has acted fairly, firmly and lawfully in a matter that is perfectly within his province,” he stated.

 Source:onuaonline.com