By Edzorna Francia Mensah
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament have filed a stay of execution at the Supreme Court over the Electronic Transfer Levy Bill, 2021.
The Minority Led by Haruna Iddrisu immediately after the one-sided House approved the controversial Bill at the News Conference in Parliament gave the hint to arrest it using the law.
The suit was filed by Haruna Iddrisu, Mahama Ayariga and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa against the AG a few hours ago.
They relied on Article 104(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana on the matter of quorum as determined by the Supreme Court through an interpretation a few weeks ago in the case between Justice Abdullah vs Attorney-General and the Minister of Justice.
The stay of execution prevents the President of Ghana from signing the E-Levy Bill into law.
According to the Minority, the Bill has not been passed contrary to claims by the Majority.
They argued that they staged a walkout so Parliament couldn’t form a quorum to have passed the Bill because one of the Majority MPs, in person Sarah Adjoa Safo was absent.
According to the Minority Leader, as provided in Article 104 (1)…”except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, matters in Parliament shall be determined by the votes of the Majority of members present and voting, with at least half of all the members of Parliament present”, and he promised to challenge matter in the Court of law.
With Adwoa Safo absent, the number of Parliamentarians in the house after the minority walked out was not up to 138 members needed to form a quorum for decision to be made or bite to be taken for or against the bill.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader earlier at a news conference defended their actions and stressed the point that the issue of quorum couldn’t be applied.
He never faulted the Minority for speaking against their constituents but he submitted that the time is now as “MPs to stand with the State in face of Global crises for the government to raise funds domestically to execute developmental projects and provide jobs for the youth”.
