Minority MPs File For Injunction Against Implementation Of E-Levy

Three MPs from the Minority side in Parliament, including Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, have filed for an injunction against the implementation of the controversial e-levy.

Along with the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga, the Minority Leader is urging the Supreme Court to restrain the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from its planned implementation of the Electronic Transactions Levy on May 1.

The MPs argue that Parliament did not have the required number of at least half of its members present when the controversial tax policy was approved.

It would be recalled that following a one-sided parliament’s approval of the e-levy, the Minority which had boycotted the parliamentary session, had sued the government at the Supreme Court arguing the majority side which supposedly approved the Bill did not have the numbers to form a quorum.

In spite of this, President Akufo-Addo assented the Bill into law even though the case was before court.

Before the case is determined by the Supreme Court the legislators want this interim measure in place.

“That since the constitutional validity of the passage of the Electronic Transfer Levy Act, 2022(Act 1075) is the gravamen of our claim before the Honourable Court, it is proper, just, and equitable that the Government of Ghana through the GRA or its officers and agents are restrained from commencing with the implementation of the Levy until the determination of the substantive suit before the Honourable Court”, documents filed on behalf of the three legislators say.

The lawyer for the MPs, Godwin Edudzi Kudzo Tamakloe filed the documents on behalf of the MPs.

“That unless the Ghana Revenue Authority is restrained, irreparable harm would be occasioned to the Plaintiffs and also to millions of citizens of Ghana and all other persons in Ghana on the basis that if the Court nullifies the passage of the Electronic Transfer Levy Act, 2022(Act 1075), the government would not be in the position to reimburse all the monies paid by the millions of citizens of Ghana and all other persons,” the court documents read.

The hearing is fixed for 4th May.