Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, has instructed his lawyers to cite the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, for contempt over comments made by the latter to the effect that the E-levy will still take effect on May 1, 2022.
Mr. Ablakwa remarked on Eyewitness News that such comments are a breach of the constitution because an injunction application has been filed in court to stop the new law’s execution.
He claimed that the GRA’s and government’s stance on the E-levy smacks of circumventing the constitution, putting the country on a dangerous path to instability and anarchy.
“I heard the GRA Commissioner, and I’ve directed my lawyers to file a contempt citation against him.” He stated that the E-levy would be implemented as planned. People must exercise caution since we are in the midst of a constitutional democracy. We are all subject to the rule of law, including the president. Those in positions of power have a vested interest in following the narrow route of constitutional order. When things go out of hand, we can’t guarantee what will happen if they start setting such horrible examples, practicing impunity, and behaving in contempt of court,” he cautioned.
Mr. Ablakwa is one of the Minority MPs who went to the Supreme Court to contest the 1.5 percent E-passage, levy’s and then filed an injunction application to halt it until the substantive case is resolved.
The Minority MPs claimed, among other things, that Parliament did not meet the constitutional quorum requirement for the E-levy to pass.
While response to news of the Minority’s legal efforts against the new tax, Majority Leader Osei Kyei – Mensah-Bonsu claimed their actions would be futile.
Mr. Ablakwa, who took considerable offense to the Majority Leader’s remark, stated that he and the Minority caucus will stop at nothing to prevent the E-levy from being implemented.
According to him, Kyei-Mensah-words Bonsu’s imply that some shady activities have taken place in order to cause injustice to Ghanaians.
“Our constitution commands that we rise up and defend it. So, if you are aware of an injunction and chose to ignore it because you are a commissioner or government official, I can decide to mobilize people to prevent you from breaking the law. Let us send a strong message to those who aim to destabilize our democratic system. He said, “They don’t have a monopoly on unethical practices.”