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Three members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament have filed for an injunction application asking the Supreme Court to stop the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from implementing the E-Levy on 1 May 2022.
The Members of Parliament (MPs) in question include the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga and the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
According to the MPs on the tickets of the opposing National Democratic Congress, Parliament did not have the required number of at least half of its members present when the E-Levy was approved.
The controversial e-levy was passed on March, 29, 2022 by a one sided Majority House after the Minority had staged a walkout. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo proceeded to assent the bill into law on March 31, same month.
Filing the documents on behalf of the applicants at the Supreme Court, Private legal practitioner, Godwin Tameklo, indicated that failure to restrain the GRA from implementing the E-Levy would create a situation of possible “irreparable harm to taxpayers.”
“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.”
“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 filed noted.
It further said it will lead to the “unfortunate situation of government unjustly enriching itself based on illegality at the expense of the citizens of Ghana and all other persons in Ghana.”
According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who is the Member of Parliament for North Tongu in the Volta Region, hearing of their application has been scheduled for May, 4, 2022.
We have today successfully filed an application at the Supreme Court to injunct the implementation of the obnoxious E-Levy pending the determination of our substantive case.
Hearing is fixed for 4th May, 2022.
The Govt/GRA must suspend its 1st May plans.
The E-Levy war is on! pic.twitter.com/kbnjgyZaun
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) April 19, 2022
