Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu: E-Levy is for revitalization of economy

The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliament Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has said that members of the Majority Caucus have resolved to stand by the Republic to ensure the revitalization of the ailing Ghanaian economy with the passage of the E-Levy Bill.

Their position on the bill, he noted, is unlike that of their National Democratic Congress (NDC) colleagues who are hell-bent in ensuring the collapse of the economy by rejecting the E-Levy Bill.

At yesterday’s sitting, Majority Leader revealed to the House how his counterpart, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, had told him of the NDC’s determination to stand by their people to prosecute their diabolical plan.

“Mr. Speaker, even before walking in here, the Minority Leader, who is the Ranking Member of the Business Committee, asked about the status [of the E-Levy], and I told him that we would come to some determination, even though it is advertised for tomorrow.

“If you look at the Supplementary Provisional Order Paper, Mr. Speaker, you’ll see it advertised for tomorrow. Even that I told him that we need to confer on that because to, all intent and purposes, we may not be able to do it tomorrow. So, he asked me whether that was an assurance, and I said to him that that is double assurance that certainly it will not come off tomorrow, but will be determined when, together. I have given him that assurance, so it is not as if anybody wants to spring any surprise,” he stated.

Revitalization

He added: “The Minority Leader is adding that they have taken a position that they want to stand with the public to reject the E- Levy, and he said that with all emphasis. Mr. Speaker, we on this side want to stand with the Republic to ensure the revitalization of the economy.

“We want to stand with the Republic to ensure the revitalization of the economy. The people want to see to the collapse of the economy but we would want to stand with the Republic. You can stand by the people to reject the E-Levy but we’ll stand by the Republic to ensure that the economy turns around.”

On why the E-Levy Bill was not introduced to the House on Friday, January 28, 2022, even though such wasn’t part of his presentation of the Business Statement for the week, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said some engagements with the leadership of the Minority at the Speaker’s Conclave triggered such a move.

“Mr. Speaker, as the House may recollect, when I came to present the business statement for this week, indeed, for last week, there was no indication that the E-Levy Bill was going to be taken. That is true. But subsequent to that, there were some engagements between the leadership of the two Caucuses and it was determined that the E-Levy Bill will be introduced to the House last week Friday. Mr. Speaker, at the Speaker’s Conclave, we further had this discussion. So, it was not a matter of surprise,” he stated.

No surprises

Reacting to the issue raised, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, said, last Friday, his side was not prepared to entertain any surprises regarding the introduction of the E-Levy Bill.

He said it would be important for Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is the Leader of Government Business, to be specific to the House when the Bill would be either reintroduced to the House as a new bill or otherwise.

“Mr. Speaker, we want the Leader of Government Business to lead us through when we will have the bill – will it be reintroduced? Is it a new Bill or under Article 106, the bill is gazetted for us to know, or we are continuing, wanting under Article 106 to suspend our Standing Orders to take it as a matter of urgency. Mr. Speaker, members need to know because on this matter, as we have publicly said, we want to stand with the public in our opposition and rejection of this bill. We don’t want to be taken by surprises,” he stated.