The Speaker of Parliament has ruled that it is improper for the management of the Ghana Revenue Authority to issue a public statement, seeking to suspend implementation of a law duly passed by the parliament.
Edward Doe Adjaho, said this on Thursday after the minority spokesperson on Finance, Anthony Akoto Osei, sought the guidance of the chair on the legality of a recent GRA statement ordering financial institutions and businesses to stop charging a 1% tax slapped on interest and savings approved by Parliament last year.
[contextly_sidebar id=”zbCzm5aPKbxh8a3JBkLN9XhJSqEAGtGf”]“The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo was in my office sometime last week to have discussions with me on this matter. I promised him that I will take the matter up with the appropriate ministry, the ministry of finance and that if it is true that they have put notice in the newspapers suspending an act which is on the statutory books, then it is not proper,” he said.
The introduction of the taxes has generated a massive public outcry.
The Speaker of Parliament explained that before they went on recess in December 2015, some officials from the Ministry of Finance approached him seeking to review the tax bill.
Mr. Adjaho said he told them that due to the workload on the House, it could only deliberate on it after they resume in 2016.
However, the GRA is alleged to have published notices in some newspapers directing financial institutions and businesses to stop charging the tax.
Doe Adjaho insisted that because the law had already been passed, “the proper thing the ministry should have done was to take steps to amend it; but until it is amended, the legal position is that, it is the law as at now.”
“If they want to declare that they are trying to inform people that they are taking steps to amend it, that’s a different matter. I have not seen the publication but I do promise you [Old Tafo MP] that we will pursue this matter,” he added.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana