The Deputy Majority leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin has disclosed that both the Majority and Minority caucus in Parliament reached a consensus over the proposed e-levy which has received massive criticism.
He made this revelation after the Minority leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu stated on 2nd December that he will only accept the electronic levy only if it is reduced from 1.75% to 1%.
“A week ago, we said no, we won’t accept e-levy but having listened to officials in government, including the Minister of Finance, I am convinced to accept a departure from my original no to accepting a one percent e-levy,” Haruna Iddrisu stated.
Speaking on the News File aired on Joy News on Saturday 4th December, Afenyo Markin fired the NDC MPs who have suddenly singled out Haruna Iddrisu’s position of accepting the e-levy only if it stands at 1% as though they all were not in agreement to it.
“We [Majority] know the position of the [Minority] which is one percent for the e-levy while government wants 1.75 percent and so I am surprised suddenly they want to single out Haruna Iddrisu’s position on the levy so if they have changed their position, I will be surprised,” he emphasized.
“…We need to let Ghanaians know that on the e-levy, the National Democratic Congress agrees with the New Patriotic Party and we share that political risk together and so they should not back track and suddenly create the impression the NPP is alone with the introduction of the e-levy. The NDC as a political party has stated that the e-levy is a ‘necessary evil’ but where we disagree on is the percentages.”
Meanwhile Sam George in a post on tweeter stated that the Minority caucus will reject the 2022 budget at the Committee and plenary.