The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority in Parliament has run to the Supreme Court to challenge the passage of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) Bill.
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu together with Mahama Ayariga and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MPs for Bawku Central and North Tongu respectively yesterday filed writ the highest court of the land, arguing the passage of the E-Levy was unconstitutional and therefore should be declared null and void.
According to them, the Majority did not the quorum to passed the Bill in accordance with Article 104 (1) when his side staged a walkout.
The Minority Leader had earlier complained the unexpected consideration of the levy had taken them by surprise and argued the approval is null and void because the House did not constitute a quorum to make a decision.
Addressing a news conference, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu served notice that Minority will immediately file a challenge to question the legitimacy of the decision taken by less than one-half of members of Parliament.
According to him, less than 137 members were in the Chamber conducting business at the time of the approval and indicated this was illegality and unconstitutional business as contained in Article 104 and interpreted by the Supreme Court.
He said the approval of the E-levy is therefore a charade because there is a judicial determination on what constitutes a voting quorum.
“The Supreme Court drew their own distinction between what they called a general quorum or a typical quorum and a voting quorum, and the voting quorum being a decision quorum.
“We are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Parliament did not have the numbers to make a decision that should be binding on Parliament and binding on the Ghanaian people.”
He stated that what Parliament was purported to have done and led by the Majority group with less than 137 members only amounted to a charade of approving of ‘a so-called E-levy’; subjecting it to second reading, consideration, procedural amendment and third reading.
