Govt wouldn’t have suffered if e-levy was injuncted – Amaliba

The government would not have suffered if the Supreme Court had injuncted the e-levy, Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abraham Amaliba, has said.

He stated that when there was no e-levy, the government machinery was functioning.

“It is not true that the government would have suffered if e-levy had been injuncted,” he said on the News 360 on TV3 Wednesday May 4.

He added “The government machinery was ongoing.”

The apex court after dismissing the application on Wednesday May 4 also directed the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to keep all records of deductions following the implementation of the electronic transaction levy.

In a unanimous ruling Presiding Judge Nene Amegatcher reading the judgment noted that the nature of the relief sought by the minority is null and void.

The controversial levy started on Sunday May 1 amidst public outcry.

The NDC heavily opposed the introduction of the levy.

In their view, it is punitive and amounts to double taxation. The bill was passed by Parliament on Tuesday March 29 after the Minority staged a walkout.

They walked out after their leader Haruna Iddrisu said the NDC MPs remained united in opposing the policy.

On Tuesday April 19 they filed an application at the apex court to block the commencement of the e-levy deductions. But the the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) went ahead to start implementation of the Policy on Sunday May 1.

The NDC MPs, while filed the injunction application were Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu and Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central.

The Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Dame has told the NDC lawmakers who filed the injunction application against the e-levy at the Supreme Court that applicants do not go to court based on speculations and conjecture.

In his view, available records in Parliament showed that the House had the required number of members present in approving the e-levy.

“You do not go to court with speculations and conjecture, you go to court on firm evidence….The applicants were unable to demonstrate any form of irregularity,” he told journalists in Accra after the Supreme Court dismissed the application against the e-levy.

By Laud Nartey|editors.3news.com|Ghana