News:
Afenyo Markin
February 4, 2022
The Electronic Transfer Levy Bill, 2021 is likely to be withdrawn and relayed by next week. Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin presenting the business statement for next week on Friday, February 4, 2022 hinted that the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta following his nationwide engagement with the citizenry on the Bill, has given indication “of the likelihood of the withdrawal of the
Bill and reintroduce of same on Friday, 11th, February 2022 barring any unforeseen circumstances.”
He however added that in the event that “he is unlikely to withdraw and reintroduce the bill on Friday, 11th February, 2022, hemaydo soon Tuesday, 15th February, 2022”.
He also assured that after the withdrawal and reintroduction of the bill, the Business Committee would, program the Bill for consideration during the course of the fourth week of this Meeting; and urged his colleagues to fully participate in the consideration of the Bill for its passage.
Meanwhile, the Minority side of the house was not enthused about the uncertainty and lack of clarity in when exactly the E-Levy bill would be considered or what exactly the government wants to do with it.
They believe government’s handling of the E-levy smack of efforts to pull a surprise on the House. And therefore urged the Majority side to be clear in their handling of the Bill.
The Minority Whip, Muntaka Mubarak said “Mr. Speaker, if u look at Article 106(4), when it comes to finding when a bill is in the house, and try to enquire about what to do and what not to do, it is for parliament to do through its relevant Committees, now we have moved from giving the Finance Minister one week to two weeks, and now we are even adding more; and yet we are claiming that we cannot give the finance committee time to do that.
Mr. Speaker if our colleagues from the majority wants us to have certainty, if you are withdrawing, come and withdraw now and tell us that you would come back with the business, so we know that the business is not before the House. But so long as they leave it lingering, Mr Speaker with using words like likelihood, unforseen circumstances, for those of us in the Minority, the only conclusion is that you are trying to lay ambush on us”.
Dominic Shirimori/ Ghanamps.com