The Member of Parliament for Zebilla, Cletus Avoka has described as unfortunate the brawl that took place on the floor of Parliament over the passage of the Electronic Transaction Levy Bill. He said while the situation could not be described as Parliamentary, the blame could be apportioned to the Majority group in Parliament.
“When you go to the negotiation table, it is give-and-take. But they [Majority group] think that what they want must be done at all times,” he explained.
He said the NPP must realize that “the composition of the 7th Parliament is different from the composition of the 8th Parliament and therefore it is concessions here and there. If not for the entrenched positions, we [the Minority group in Parliament] said we can accommodate you. This is the first time of introducing the e-levy so instead of the 1.75 percent, you can bring it to 1 percent or 0.5 percent and in 6 months or something, depending on the results, you can come for an amendment and then it will be done,” he explained.
He was speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East today, December 21, 2021. Touching on the absence of the substantive Speaker, Mr. Avoka explained that the speaker, recuperating from his medical trip abroad, could not stay through the night.
The MP for Zebilla chided the First Deputy Speaker and MP for Bekwai, Joseph Osei Owusu for his intent to walk out and be counted during the Division. He said if that was done, it would have left the House without a Speaker.
Mr. Avoka expressed hope that once the substantive Speaker, Alban Kingsford Bagbin, presides over Parliamentary proceedings today, December 21, 2021, issues relating to the pending E-levy Bill will be addressed.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz| Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
