Convenors of #FixTheCountry movement, together with two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – Democracy Hub and Democratic Accountability Lab –
Convenors of #FixTheCountry movement, together with two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – Democracy Hub and Democratic Accountability Lab – have served the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Mr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, with a letter asking the authority not to go ahead with the implementation of the e-levy.
The movement drew the attention of the Authority to several decisions of the Supreme Court which, in their view, specify that any conduct including the decision by the Authority to commence the implementation of the e-levy on the 1st of May 2022, will expose the Authority, and the Commissioner-General to contempt charges.
In its letter “#FixTheCountry notified the Ghana Revenue Authority that according to the law, whether or not an injunction application has been filed or heard, the Authority is required to refrain or abstain from taking any step that renders that prevents the court from discharging its judicial function and brings the authority and administration of the law into disrespect.
“In this connection, the Convenors note that the Authority cannot start from implementing the Electronic Transfer Levy Act 2022 (Act 1075) until a competent Court declares otherwise.
“The Convenors ask that the Ghana Revenue Authority retreat immediately from its intention to commence the implementation of the Electronic Transfer Levy Act 2022 (Act 1075).
“The Convenors indicate that should the Authority fail to comply with the law, they are prepared to take all law-based actions, including direct actions to prevent the violation of the Constitution, as required under Articles 3 and 42 of the 1992 Constitution; to the initiation of contempt proceedings against the Commissioner-General and the Authority should it fail to observe the law.”
The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta earlier revealed that the implementation of the e-levy would start in May this year.
“We had some meetings with Controller and Accountant Generals Department (CAGD) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and they have said right at the beginning of May they should be able to put their system together,” he told TV3’s Roland Walker in Parliament after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo delivered the State of the Nation Address on Wednesday March 30.
The E-levy was passed by Parliament on Tuesday March 29 after the third reading in the House. The Minority staged a walkout during the second reading. They walked out after their leader Haruna Iddrisu said the NDC MPs remained united in opposing the policy.
On Tuesday April 19 the Minority in Parliament filed an application at the apex court to block the commencement of the e-levy deductions.
Hearing of the application will take place on May 4.
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