The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Swedru Kennedy Nyarko Osei has called on the Minister for the Interior Ambrose Dery ensure lawless lawmakers are dealt with without fear or favour.
“The Interior Minister as a matter of urgency, takes all the necessary steps” to “provide substantial and tough security arrangements in parliament going forward to deal ruthlessly with any unruly MPs within the chamber”.
The former Deputy Minister for Food and agriculture stressed on his Facebook that, “We must protect the sanctity of our parliament and democracy and not allow some rascals creating confusion in the chamber.
“We must not sit down for either the Speaker or a member to be maimed before we take any decisive actions”, he stated.
Mr Nyarko Osei’s suggestion followed Monday night’s fisticuffs in parliament over the 1.75 per cent E-levy Bill.
The chaos started when First Deputy Speaker Joe Osei-Owusu, who was presiding over the business of the house in the absence of Speaker Alban Bagbin, announced that he will be taking his vote on whether or not the bill should be considered under a certificate of urgency.
He indicated the Second Deputy Speaker will preside for him to take his ballot on the mater.
However, the minority NDC disagreed with the Mr Osei-Owusu and attempted to take the Speaker’s chair away.
Consequently, MPs from both sides of the House exchanged blows over the matter, which threw the whole Parliament into chaos.
Earlier in the day, the Finance Committee of Parliament recommended by majority decision that the Bill should be taken under the certificate of urgency.
The Minority side, made up of 12 members, voted against it while the 12 members on the Majority side voted for it.
The Chairman of the Committee voted in favour of the bill to break the tie.
This meant it was to be put before the plenary for a certificate of urgency vote as the House was scheduled to rise soon for the Christmas break.
The NDC and its Minority are against the 1.75 per cent levy, which will affect electronic transactions.
However, the government has explained that the upsurge in the use of e-payment platforms, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been an impetus for the introduction of the levy.
As a result, Ghana recorded a total of GH¢500 billion from e-transactions in 2020 compared with GH¢78 billion in 2016.
The government indicated that e-Levy proceeds will be used to support entrepreneurship, youth employment, cyber security, and digital and road infrastructure, among others.
