Former President John Dramani Mahama has refuted claims that President Nana Akufo-Addo has sought his intervention in the controversy surrounding the E-levy Bill in Parliament.
Commenting on his Facebook page on Wednesday, the former President indicated that he has not had any conversation with the President on the controversial Bill currently before the country’s legislature.
According to him, he hosted Gabby Otchere-Darko at his residence at the request of the President on December 21. Mr. Mahama said the conversation with Mr. Otchere-Darko focused on pertinent issues of national interest and not the substantive issue of the E-levy Bill.
“President Akufo-Addo did not seek my intervention in the E-levy impasse. I received Gabby Otchere Darko, at his request, at my residence on Tuesday, 21st December, 2021. Among issues we discussed was the desire of Ghanaians to see the two major political parties working together for the interest of the nation.”
Mr. Mahama added that, “We discussed, also, how dialogue can be deployed to ensure Parliamentary issues are agreed consensually before coming on the floor to avoid what happened recently in the House.
“We further discussed opening channels of communication between the leaders of the two parties including a possible meeting with the President at a future date”.
He concluded by saying that, “at no time was there any discussion specifically about the President requiring my intervention in the impasse on the E-levy”.
On November 17, the Finance Minister announced the decision of government to impose a 1.75% e-levy on all electronic transactions, from January, 2022.
The announcement has since generated series of debates with many calling for the policy to be discarded. Others have however welcomed the revenue measure by government.
On Monday December 20, MPs from the Majority and Minority Caucuses brawled over procedural disagreements in Parliament regarding the E-levy Bill.
Following this development, rumours broke out that President Akufo-Addo has reached out to John Mahama to implore him to calm the tension.
According to some commentaries on social media, President Akufo-Addo impressed upon Mr. Mahama to convince the NDC MPs to facilitate the passage of the e-levy bill.
But the former President has indicated strongly that President Akufo-Addo has not made any efforts to solicit his assistance in the promulgation of the E-levy Bill.
Meanwhile, Parliament on Tuesday, December 21, adjourned proceedings indefinitely after the chaos which occurred on Monday.
According to the Majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the break will create the opportunity for government to deepen consultations with all relevant stakeholders on the proposed 1.75% e-levy.
