The North Tongu Constituency Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablwakwa says he has tasked his lawyers to commence a contempt process aganist the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah.
This follows the latter’s comments that the authority will still go ahead to implement the E-levy on the stipulated May 1, 2022 despite an injunction filed by Mr. Ablakwa and two others.
Speaking on Citi News, Mr. Ablakwa said his comments are clear violation of the constitution and prejudice to the court hence the need to be cited for contempt.
The law maker said the attitude of GRA and and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government on the E-levy is a clear testament of breaching the constitution and that is dangerous as a country to thread on.
“I heard the GRA boss and I have equally instructed my lawyers to cite him for contempt. He said he was going ahead with implementation of the E-levy. People must be careful, we are operating a constitutional democracy. All of us including the President are subject to the law. It is in the interest of those in power to make sure that they walk the narrow path of constitutional order. If they start setting such bad examples, practicing impunity and engaging in contempt of court, when things get out of hand, we cannot guarantee what will happen,” he warned.
He is among the minority MPs who have gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the passage of the 1.5% E-levy and subsequently filed an injunction application to stop it until a final determination of the substantive matter.
According to them Parliament did not meet the constitutional threshold of a quorum for the the passage of the E-levy.
Mr. Ablakwa said the minority took the action because “our constitution calls on us to rise up and defend the it. So if you know there is an injunction and you decide that because you are a commissioner or government official you will go ahead, I can also decide to mobilize people to stop you from violating the constitution.”
“Let us send a clear message to these people who want to destroy our constitutional democracy. They don’t have monopoly over this unethical tactics,” he said.
