The New Juaben South Constituency of the opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, has described as blatant lies claim by the Member of Parliament for the constituency Micheal Okyere Baafi, that the minority caucus in Parliament covertly supports the e-Levy policy.
A statement issued Wednesday, February 16, 2022, under the signature of Michael Odei Paddi, Communication Officer said,
“The attention of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the New Juaben South Constituency of the Eastern Region has been drawn to a video circulating widely in the mainstream and social media, in which the Member of Parliament for the New Juaben South Constituency, Honourable Michael Okyere Baafi, is seen addressing Market women at the Koforidua Central Market, that the Minority Caucus in Parliament supports the E-Levy secretly and encourages the government behind the scenes to do all it could to pass the Bill”.
The statement continued that “We wish to remind Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi that the position of the Minority Caucus in Parliament, as regards the obnoxious E-Levy is a matter of public knowledge and reflects the unwavering solidarity of the NDC with the suffering people of Ghana.
For the avoidance of doubt, the NDC is opposed to the E-Levy in any shape or form so it is mischievous that Honourable Michael Okyere Baafi, coming from the House of Records, will peddle such blatant falsehood in a desperate move to court public support for the E-Levy. Such actions are dishonorable of an Honourable Member of Parliament as they bring the office of the Member of Parliament into disrepute”.
The NDC also condemned the statement by the MP that, the Free SHS will be canceled if Ghana runs to IMF for support rather than accepting e-levy.
“The high office of the Member of Parliament comes with responsibility. We, thus, urge Honourable Michael Okyere Baafi to desist from such loose pronouncements forthwith and make his public utterances exemplify the dignity accorded the office of the Member of Parliament. Honorable Michael Okyere Baafi’s statements to the effect that the IMF will direct the government to suspend the implementation of the Free Senior High School Policy, for lack of fiscal space, if the E-Levy Bill is not passed, are misinformation and miseducation of the Constituents of New Juaben South, which the NDC condemns in no uncertain terms”.
The statement by the NDC continued to expose the disingenuity and concocted lies adopted by the NPP in an attempt to get the support of Ghanaians for the unpopular e-levy policy.
This misinformation, miseducation, and fear-mongering statements of the leadership of the NPP on the E-Levy cannot intimidate the many tax-burdened Ghanaians who are reeling under the yoke of President Akuffo Addo and Alhaji Bawumiah’s misrule.
It must be re-echoed that no perfume from Arabia nor frankincense or myrrh from Israel can make the E-Levy smell sweet.
Indeed, the survey reports of ISSER, IMANI-AFRICA, UG Business School, UPSA, Central University, Media General, the Multimedia Group, etc, have expressed an overwhelming rejection of the E-Levy by Ghanaians.
Dr. Kwame Pianim, a stalwart of the NPP has described the E-Levy as jerky maneuvering”.
According to the party, the unwavering position of the NDC on e-levy reflects the general sentiments of Ghanaians.
“Again, the former Member of Parliament for the New Juaben South Constituency and former chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah, has roundly rejected the E-Levy for other revenue mobilization options. The NDC’s position on the E-Levy remains unchanged. We, therefore, urged Ghanaians, more particularly, the Constituents of New Juaben South, to disregard and treat with contempt, the statements of Honourable Michael Okyere Baafi, contained in the video making the rounds in the traditional and social media”.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
