All things being equal, the Electronic Transactions Bill, also known as E-Levy, would be laid before Parliament tomorrow.
The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, presenting the business statement, the programme line up of the House on January 25, told his colleagues that the bill would be relaid on Tuesday February 1, 2022 as the Finance Minister concludes stakeholder consultations on the bill.
A two-day consultative meeting between the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minority caucus on the controversial bill ended in a stalemate as the opposition lawmakers insisted on ‘No E-Levy’ despite a proposal by Finance Minister to reduce the rate from 1.75 per cent to 1.5.
A last-minute push to have the bill approved last Friday after the talks broke down, with the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin scheduled to travel out of the jurisdiction on Saturday, was rebelled against by the Minority.
Though not part of the schedule on Friday, an addendum order paper which had the E-Levy as a sole motion to be debated was abandoned as the Majority seems not to have the numbers to push the bill through.
With Mr Bagbin having departed the country till March 4, the numerical strength of the Majority Group would be reduced to 137 as one of them would be required to preside when the House resumes tomorrow.
The House degenerated into chaos on December 20, 2021 when First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, decided to vacate his seat to cast a vote on whether or not the bill should be considered under a certificate of urgency.
The Minority had challenged his eligibility to vote whilst presiding and disrupted proceedings when the Bekwai MP vacated the seat for the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, so he could go and vote in a division.
With the Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka, serving notice that they would resist attempts by any of the deputies to vote in Mr Bagbin’s absence, it is to be seen if any deputy would attempt to vote if need be when the bill is tabled before the House again.
With 137 for the Minority and 138 for the Majority – minus one to preside, the motion, in accordance with the Standing Orders, if moved would be lost should the Minority vote en masse against the bill.
Government has justified the proposed levy as one to generate about GH¢7 billion in revenues annually for the construction and maintenance of roads and create jobs for the youth.
Though it earlier insisted that the rate would not be reduced, it reduced the rate as part of its concession in the negotiation.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI