The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Dame has said that the Supreme Court order to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to keep records of the funds collected from the e-levy deductions, is an affirmation of what the GRA is already doing.
He stated that the authority is in the business of keeping records.
Speaking to journalists after the Supreme Court dismissed an injunction application filed by the Minority, on Wednesday May 4, he said “There is no revenue collection agency in the world which does not keep records. So, really, the requirement for GRA to keep records is borne out by their statutory obligation, that is what they do.
“If there was anything that the Minority got today, it was an affirmation of what GRA does, that they should keep records, that is all. Apart from that the entire application was dismissed and there is nothing inhibiting the GRA from collecting all monies as a result of the e-levy Act.”
He further said that the NDC lawmakers who filed the injunction application against the e-levy failed to prove that there were irregularities in the approval of the e-levy by Parliament.
He said there were no irregularities in the approval as available records in Parliament indicated that there were the required number of MPs present when the House endorsed 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 said.
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.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana